Manchester United was nearing the appointment of Rúben Amorim as the new manager on Monday night, following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal earlier that day.
Amorim, the manager of Sporting, was believed to be inclined to remain with the Portuguese champions due to his ambition to secure a consecutive title, something the club last accomplished 70 years ago.
Negotiations Underway for United Job
Following identifying the 39-year-old as United’s preferred choice, he expressed his willingness to engage with the executive and was in negotiations on Monday night regarding succeeding Ten Hag. United aims to announce him next week.
Amorim’s Previous Links to Top Clubs
Amorim, with a release clause of €10m, was considered one of the top contenders to succeed Jürgen Klopp as the manager of Liverpool in the summer, although the club ultimately appointed Arne Slot as Klopp’s replacement. This year, Amorim also traveled to London to hold talks with West Ham about taking over from David Moyes as their manager. He later expressed regret for the incident in a press conference, calling it a “mistake.” Manchester City were also interested in Amorim as a possible successor to Pep Guardiola if he chose to leave the champions at the end of the season.
Amorim’s Coaching Achievements
Amorim is currently in his fifth year as a head coach. During his inaugural season at Braga, he won the 2019-20 Taça de Liga (the Portuguese Cup) before moving to Sporting, where he has since secured two Primeira Liga championships and another pair of Taça de Ligas.
Challenges Facing Rúben Amorim at Manchester United
He is regarded as a sharp strategist and a skilled manager who aims to bring about a swift change in the team’s prospects. Currently, they sit in 14th position in the Premier League with 11 points from nine matches and a goal difference of -3. In the Europa League, United ranks 21st, having secured three draws in their three games.
Even though United trails Aston Villa by seven points for the fourth spot, if Amorim takes over, he would need a significant improvement in the team’s performance and results to secure a Champions League position, given that they have only netted eight goals in the league so far.
Van Nistelrooy as Interim Manager
Right after parting ways with Ten Hag, United chose his assistant, Ruud van Nistelrooy, to serve as the interim manager. He is anticipated to lead the team in their match against Leicester in the last-16 round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.
United dismissed Ten Hag following the 2-1 loss to West Ham on Sunday, a result that marks one of the club’s worst beginnings to a Premier League season. The football department, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, concluded that there were no further justifications for the poor performance and communicated this to Ten Hag at the training ground on Monday morning.
United’s Official Statement
The club announced: Erik ten Hag has departed from his position as the manager of Manchester United’s men’s first team. Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the team to win two domestic championships, clinching the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
We appreciate everything Erik has contributed during his time here and wish him all the best moving forward.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will lead the team as interim head coach, with the current coaching staff providing support until a permanent head coach is appointed.
United’s Struggles and Ratcliffe’s Decision
United aimed to provide Ten Hag with time, seeking stability during a transitional phase at the club. There was optimism that he would collaborate effectively with the new sporting director, Dan Ashworth, and technical director, Jason Wilcox, to revitalize the club after concluding last season in eighth place, but no progress was evident.
The choice is the most important one made by Ratcliffe and his supporters since Ineos acquired a minority share in the club last December. Last season, United’s eighth-place finish was their worst in the league since 1990, and this season there have only been four victories in 13 matches across all competitions.
Management Support for Ten Hag
At the beginning of September, United’s CEO, Omar Berrada, along with Ashworth, voiced their support for Ten Hag publicly. Berrada asked, Do we still believe in Erik? Definitely. We believe Erik is the right coach for us, and we are completely behind him.
Final Moments of Ten Hag’s Tenure
Three days later, the Guardian, however, noted that his “game model” was under examination.
Ten Hag faced significant pressure after the previous season, yet he led the team to a win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final and kept his position after Manchester United spoke with several candidates before agreeing to a two-year contract extension.
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