A new era begins at Manchester United as Ruben Amorim becomes the latest coach to take on the challenge of reviving the storied English club.
After more than a decade of on-field decline, the 20-time English champions have turned to a 39-year-old Portuguese who has delivered trophies and a thrilling style of football to Sporting Lisbon, but takes over a club that has made a habit of wrecking even the biggest reputations.
High-calibre managers have come and gone, more than $1 billion has been spent on player signings, yet United just can’t seem to get it right.
Amorim will not be able to officially start work though, until he gets his visa, which is expected to take a couple of days.
Amorim signed off from his time at the Portuguese side with a 4-2 win against former club Braga on Sunday.
“I feel ready for the new challenge,” Amorim told reporters after the match. “I’m not naive, I know it’s going to be very different, very difficult. I’m at peace now. I can focus on my new job.
“I know it will be difficult to reproduce what I have here anywhere else but there are other places with different exposure and pressure.”
Amorim will have 13 days during the international break to prepare for his first United match in charge away against Ipswich in the Premier League on November 24.
A combination of the number of players leaving for international duty this week, and some of those not called up being given time off, means that it will be largely those who are injured that Amorim first gets to see when he reports for duty at United’s Carrington training complex.
Amorim has predominantly played a 3-4-3 system during his time in Portugal and says he knows how he wants to set up his team at Old Trafford.
“I know how I am going to play in the beginning because you have to start with a structure that you know and then you will adapt with the players that you have,” said Amorim.
“Some injuries or no injuries, what kind of players, the abilities to defend, to attack... I will discover that in the next few weeks.”
Van Nistelrooy leaves
Ruud van Nistelrooy has left United following Amorim’s arrival.
A United statement announcing Van Nistelrooy’s departure said: “Ruud is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend.
“We are grateful for his contribution and the way in which he has approached his role throughout histime with the club. He willalways be very welcome at Old Trafford.”
Rene Hake, Jelle ten Rouwelaar and Pieter Morel have also left the club.
The former United striker returned to Old Trafford in the summer to work under Dutchman Erik ten Hag and was installed as interim head coach following his compatriot’s sacking on October 28.
“I have to talk with him,” Amorim said on Sunday. “I will explain everything. I’m very clear and I will tell you like it is. So let’s wait.”
Amorim — a former Portugal international — was Sporting’s coach from 2020 and ended their 19-year wait for the Portuguese title in 2021. He won it again in 2024 and his achievements led to links with jobs at Liverpool, Manchester City and Barcelona before he was hired to replace Ten Hag at the start of the month.
He is United’s sixth permanent coach since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after winning his 13th Premier League title. Ferguson won 28 major trophies, including two Champions Leagues, and his record has cast a shadow over his successors.
Sporting manager
Sporting have appointed Joao Pereira as head coach on a deal through to 2027, the Portuguese champions announced on Monday.
Former Portugal defender Pereira had three spells at Sporting as a player, making 154 appearances in his last season under Amorim in 2020-2021 when they won the title. The 40-year-old led Sporting’s Under-23 and B teams after ending his playing career.
With inputs from AP
