- Ruben Amorim was asked about potentially succeeding Erik ten Hag at United
- The Sporting Lisbon boss has won two league titles with the Portuguese club
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim gave a terse response when asked about taking the vacant Manchester United job, which he has reportedly agreed to.
The Athletic reported on Monday afternoon that United were working on a deal to appoint Amorim as Erik ten Hag’s successor, before the Manchester Evening News claimed it was already sealed.
Amorim, who has won two Portuguese league titles with Sporting, was linked with Liverpool and West Ham earlier this year but neither move materialised.
He even flew to London to iron out a deal with the Hammers in April before that collapsed and he returned to Lisbon with his tail between his legs, apologising to fans.
Despite the latest reports, Amorim poured cold water on any talk. ‘I was already expecting this question and obviously I’m not going to talk about the future, because otherwise I’ll always have to comment,’ he said.
Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim refused to comment about the prospect of him taking the Manchester United job
The Manchester Evening News has claimed that Amorim, 39, has already agreed to take the job
Erik ten Hag was sacked on Monday morning on the back of a 2-1 defeat by West Ham
‘I’m very proud to be Sporting coach, that’s all.’
The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that United were working on prising Amorim from Sporting, with a release clause of around £8.3million.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is in interim charge at Old Trafford after Ten Hag was relieved of his duties in a Monday morning meeting with CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth. It’s understood that the decision by United’s leadership team was collective and unanimous, even though sources say it was ‘a difficult and finely balanced’ one.
Mail Sport has discovered that sacking Ten Hag is costing United around £15million. They triggered a one-year contract extension in the summer after deciding not to recruit a replacement.
Ten Hag won the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup earlier this year, two trophies he was insistent on reminding people of when he faced criticism.
In his first season he led United to third in the Premier League, a marked improvement on the disastrous campaign before which saw them stumble to sixth under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
However, they were unable to build on that success. United finished bottom of their Champions League group before recording their worst-ever Premier League finish of eighth.
Ten Hag won plaudits early on for how he handled stars, asserting his authority with a stern approach towards Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will assume interim charge as United’s chiefs seek a replacement
Man United suffered their fourth league defeat of the season against West Ham on Sunday
Edin Terzic (left) and Thomas Frank (right) are among those linked with the permanent role
Amorim (left) and Xavi (right) have also been earmarked as contenders to replace him
But pundits continually pointed out that United lacked a disernible plan and they suffered some heavy defeats during Ten Hag’s reign, be that 7-0 to Liverpool, 4-0 to Crystal Palace and Brentford, or the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham earlier this season which could have been more.
In a statement on the club website, United said: ‘Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.
‘Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
‘We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.
‘Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited’.
