Erik ten Hag has thanked the Manchester United fans for their “unshakable support” during his two-and-a-half years in charge, as the Dutchman reflected that his “dream has come to an end” after he was sacked on Monday.

United have appointed Ruben Amorim as their new head coach and the Sporting Lisbon boss will become the club’s seventh permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired when he begins his role on November 11.

After a promising start, Ten Hag met the same fate as every other manager who has attempted to bring success back to Old Trafford, and he was sacked with the club 14th in the Premier League table and struggling on the pitch.

But Ten Hag brought some good days and he won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, beating Manchester City in a memorable final at Wembley, in achievements he said he would “cherish for the rest of my life”.

The 39-year-old will remain at Sporting Lisbon until the international break with the Portuguese club adamant their head coach sees out his notice period.

“Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Ruben Amorim as head coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements,” a statement said.

Amorim took charge of Sporting CP in March 2020, as a 35-year-old coach with only two months’ experience managing in the Portuguese top flight. He inherited a giant club without a league title in 18 years, in disarray on and off the field after the exits of key players Raphinha, Bas Dost and Bruno Fernandes – ironically now set to be his captain at Old Trafford.

United sacked Erik ten Hag on Monday following a dismal start to the season, and immediately opened talks with the 39-year-old Amorim about replacing the Dutchman. The club were willing to pay a €10m release clause to sign their top target before encountering issues over further compensation to acquire Amorim’s assistant coaches, leading the appointment to drag out all week.

But after striking a deal, Amorim will now leave Sporting CP following four years in charge, having won two league titles to end the club’s 19-year wait, and with the Sporting top of the Primeira Liga having won each of their first nine games.

“When I arrived here, my first message to the players was that I was sad, because a coach’s sacking is not good. I think it’s the same now with Manchester United. The sacking of Ten Hag is not good news but of course football is like that.

“I know something about Ruben Amorim because we have played sometimes [against each other]. I think he is doing very good work in Portugal, at Sporting. If Man Utd have decided to appoint him, it’s because he deserves it.”

“Yes I saw him Monday here and spoke to him before the game, he is very disappointed and touched. He cared for the club, the first conversations we had, I felt he cared and loved the club and wanted to bring the club forward. That is where we connected. He is also proud of his achievements here.

“In the end, it is also clear in football that is the results and Erik also said, in pre-season we had new staff and all were very positive and all working hard to bring the club forward.

“There are things you can’t explain sometimes. I also remember the Brighton goal we scored and then you concede the 2-1, so many games we felt we could get a better result, talking Palace, West Ham, Porto, Fenerbahce but we also know it is about results and that is part of our job.”

Rubem Amorim’s Manchester United could look immediately very different to Erik ten Hag’s.

Since last season, Sporting have the fourth-highest defensive line from the major leagues in Europe with 45.20m, with Man City top with 46.70m.

Arsenal sit sixth on 44.70m away from goal and Liverpool are 10th on 44.20m.

The Red Devils, under Ten Hag in that time, sit 41.70m away from goal.

Ruud van Nistelrooy on if he expects to stay as assistant: “We will see but it is the contract situation I am in and my desire to help the club forward.

“I can speak to you about my side of the story and after, when the new manager is signing and conversations take place, we have to see how things develop.”

In a video post on X, former England centre-half Ferdinand said: “I spoke to (former Manchester United and Sporting winger) Nani the other day and he said whatever you want to talk about, tactics or whatever, the players play for him, they love him and they respect him.

“One of the issues I think with Erik ten Hag…….and what Nani said about Amorim, is that he’s very straight and very direct.

“From what I’m hearing, I’m talking to people who played for (him), I think the character and the charisma compared to Ten Hag will be the big difference.”

Italian midfielder Maresca and Van Nistelrooy played together at Malaga in what was the final year of the striker’s glittering career, sharing a dressing room in the 2011-12 season.