Ruben Amorim claims Manchester United informed him it was “now or never” after being given a brief opportunity midway through the season to return the Premier League giants to the peak of English and European football.
After Erik ten Hag was fired on Monday after a disastrous start to the season, the 39-year-old Sporting Lisbon coach rapidly emerged as a strong candidate for the Old Trafford post.
Amorim has signed a contract until 2027 and will begin his tenure on November 11, becoming the club’s sixth permanent manager since Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
Amorim, speaking publicly for the first time since being appointed to one of the most important positions in international football, described the past few days as a blur of activity.
“The only question I made was to go at the end of the season,” Amorim said on Friday after Sporting thrashed Estrela 5-1 in the Portuguese league.
“But I was told it was now or never. I had three days to make the decision. That’s what I did.
“If I rejected it now, in six months I would not have got it. I didn’t want to regret making this decision.”
Amorim stated that he had been approached by several clubs, one of which promised him “three times” the compensation he would receive at United.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will be in interim command until Amorim arrives at Old Trafford.
Amorim was hailed as “one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football” by United.
The Portuguese coach will oversee Sporting’s next matches before the international break, with the victory over Estrela marking the club’s tenth win in ten league games this season.
Sporting will play Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Amorim’s final league game will be against old club Braga on November 10.
He will take charge of United for the first time on November 24, away at relegation-threatened Ipswich.
Sporting said in a statement United would pay the Portuguese club 11 million euros ($12 million) over Amorim’s departure.
Languishing
Ten Hag was fired after United lost 2-1 to West Ham, leaving them in 14th place in the Premier League.
Despite a significant financial investment, they have only three wins in nine league matches.
The three-time European champions sit 21st out of 36 teams in the redesigned Europa League, having drawn three of their three meetings this season.
Prior to Wednesday’s 5-2 League Cup fourth-round victory against Leicester, United had won only one of their previous eight games in all competitions.
Ten Hag won the League Cup and FA Cup during his two full seasons at Old Trafford, although the team hasn’t won the Premier League since 2013.
Ferguson won the Premier League title 13 times during his nearly 27-year tenure, but the 20-time English champions have not launched a serious title campaign since.
Former United striker Van Nistelrooy said Thursday that he is “motivated” to help turn the club’s season around and hopes to stay as he prepares the team for a high-profile encounter against Chelsea on Sunday.
Rising star
Amorim, a former Portugal player, began his coaching career with then-third-tier Casa Pia in 2018, before moving to Braga.
Sporting swooped in 2020, and in his first full season in charge, he led the club to its first league title in 19 years, a feat he repeated last season.
He was regarded as one of the emerging stars of the European coaching scene when Jurgen Klopp announced his departure, but Dutch coach Arne Slot took his place at Anfield.
Amorim spoke with West Ham this year before they hired former Spain coach Julen Lopetegui to replace David Moyes.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand stated that Amorim possesses the “character and charisma” that Ten Hag lacked.
Ten Hag meanwhile thanked United fans, saying “my dream was to bring more trophies to the cabinet”.
“Unfortunately that dream has come to an end,” he said in a statement.
“I wish all Manchester United fans nothing but success, trophies and glory.
“Your support and the warmth I received from everyone at the club helped me feel at home.”