Ruben Amorim is set to become Manchester United’s next manager, with Sporting Lisbon confirming that the Premier League club are prepared to pay a €10m (£8.3m) release clause for his services.
Talks between United and Sporting accelerated on Tuesday, with reports insisting the release clause has now been triggered, and the Portuguese coach could now be appointed in time to take charge of Sunday’s Premier League match against Chelsea.
Amorim wants the job and has agreed to be the club’s next manager after the Old Trafford hierarchy put the 39-year-old at the top of their list to replace Erik ten Hag.
“Manchester United have registered an interest in hiring Ruben Amorim and paying his €10m release clause,” a statement from Sporting said.
Amorim took charge of Sporting’s League Cup match against Nacional on Tuesday night, while Ruud van Nistelrooy will oversee United’s Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City on Wednesday.
Follow all the latest news and updates below as United close in on their new manager:
Manchester United now in advanced talks to make Ruben Amorim new manager
Sporting Lisbon confirm Man Utd are prepared to pay €10m release clause
Ruben Amorim provides update to Man Utd links
12:25 , Jack Rathborn
If Ruben Amorim’s task of restoring Manchester United to the champions of England looks nigh on impossible from the team’s lowly current position, at least he is a manager with form for remarkable transformation.
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.
Amorim quickly set about imprinting his own football identity. In his first full season in charge, his young side set a league record 32-game unbeaten run on their way to winning the Primeira Liga, ending the long duopoly of Porto and Benfica. Sporting lost only one league game all season, against Benfica, after already securing the title.
How Ruben Amorim will change Man Utd – starting with three things
12:05 , Jack Rathborn
11:52 , Jack Rathborn
Former Liverpool and Portugal defender Abel Xavier took his coaching badges alongside Ruben Amorim and was impressed with the Sporting coach.
“He is very humble, discreet, and has a very clear mindset,” Xavier told BBC World Service.
“At Braga we saw an immediate impact because, with the same squad, with the same players, he transformed the team.
“He put in place his ideas, he changed the dynamic, he created empathy, and of course a big club like Sporting Lisbon paid to have him.”
11:35 , Jack Rathborn
“It’s been a mess, that’s exactly what it is at Manchester United, a really poor start to the season,” says Kris Boyd tells Sky Sports.
“You’d expect Amorim to come in and freshen it up. It’s far too slow, I don’t see that with his Sporting, they’re quick and ask questions of teams defensively.
“In terms of bringing players in? You might have to get players out first. He’s a young coach, you’ve got to give him time.
“They’ll spend a lot of money to bring him here. It’s an exciting appointment for Manchester United, everything else has changed. They’ve got this now, they’ve spent a lot of money. They’ll find a way to support Amorim and I’m sure he’ll be a success.”
11:15 , Jack Rathborn
Manchester United transfers 24/25
1) Leny Yoro – €62m
2) Manuel Ugarte – €50m
3) Matthijs de Ligt – €45m
4) Joshua Zirkzee – €42.5m
5) Noussair Mazraoui – €15m
6) Ruben Amorim – €10m
10:57 , Jack Rathborn
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.
10:40 , Jack Rathborn
Pep Guardiola insists he “never had that feeling” about fear of losing his job since the first season in charge of Manchester City in 2016/17.
That season Guardiola’s City finished third behind champions Chelsea. While Guardiola managed to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup, the fourth round of the League Cup and the round of 16 in the Champions League.
10:20 , Jack Rathborn
Key figures from Manchester United are negotiating with Sporting in Portugal currently, reports Sky Sports.
The nature of those negotiations concern Ruben Amorim’s backroom staff and the prospect of them joining him at Old Trafford.
Carlos Fernandes, Adélio Cândido and Jorge Vital are among the key figures in Amorim’s team.
10:00 , Jack Rathborn
“I have the feeling that if Man United is thinking about him [Ruben Amorim] it’s because he’s good,” adds Guardiola.
“United don’t appoint managers that don’t meet that level.
“All the managers they’ve had in the last seven years, we cannot say are not able to lead Man United…”
09:40 , Jack Rathborn
The immediate future for Ruben Amorim centres around a few games.
Sporting face Estrela da Amadora on Friday night in the Primeira Liga.
This Sunday Manchester United host Chelsea, which could be his first game in charge of the Red Devils.
Next week Sporting travel to Manchester… to face Man City in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
While Manchester United host PAOK next Thursday at Old Trafford, which could also be his first game in charge should negotiations rumble on beyond this week.
09:20 , Jack Rathborn
Amorim’s assistants linked with following him from Sporting:
Carlos Fernandes (below), assistant manager
Adélio Cândido, assistant manager
Jorge Vital, goalkeeping coach
09:00 , Jack Rathborn
Pep Guardiola on Ruben Amorim’s rapid rise in football: “What’s the problem? I started in Barcelona at 37 from the fourth division. Knowledge is knowledge.
“If you’re able, it doesn’t matter. For that reason, Lamine Yamal could not play at 17, right? He has to wait till 24…
“The experience against Ruben’s Sporting one or two seasons ago was really, really good. I spoke with Matheus Nunes and he spoke highly. This season he’s unbeaten winning all of the games in the league, and the Champions League has the same points with us…”
08:40 , Miguel Delaney
Manchester United could face more expenses to prize Ruben Amorim away from Sporting Lisbon, the Independent understands.
On top of the £8.3m release clause, Sporting are pushing for more compensation for Amorim’s assistant coaches, with as much as £4.1m more demanded.
It would also allow Amorim to waive a 30-day notice period, reports in Portugal add.
08:20 , Jack Rathborn
“We have to wait a little bit more to explain what I need to explain, then it will be very clear,” says Ruben Amorim.
“Yes, it is my decision, I will tell everything, we have to wait. I don’t know [how long].”
Pushed over whether he will be at Old Trafford for Man Utd v Chelsea on Sunday, Amorim maintains he will still be in Portugal.
“I will be here [at Sporting].”
Definitely?
“I don’t know.”
08:00 , Jack Rathborn
Pep Guardiola has offered to give Erik ten Hag advice or support following his sacking by Manchester United.
“Any time! Seriously! Always we are open, but I think it’s not going to happen,” Guardiola said.
“But I know his agent a little bit, so the relation is there, no problem for me, for us…”
07:30 , Jack Rathborn
Bruno Fernandes spoke glowingly last year about Ruben Amorim and his potential as a manager.
The Sporting boss has been tipped to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United and the Portuguese midfielder’s remarks from last year suggest he will be pleased with the potential appointment.
“I think all the qualities are there to be able to succeed in English, French, or Spanish football,” Fernandes told SportTV last year.
“Obviously, we know that the Premier League is probably the most desired. The qualities [to succeed in England] are there and he has everything to take the next step, in my opinion.”
07:00 , Mike Jones
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand likened Erik ten Hag’s reign to a boxer getting “knocked down” and “never recovering”.
Ten Hag was sacked as United first-team manager on Monday following a disappointing start to the season.
They slipped into 14th in the Premier League table following their fourth league defeat of the season, by West Ham on Sunday.
Speculation had mounted over the Dutchman’s position in recent weeks and Ferdinand admitted he was unsurprised to see the boss go.
Fight’s been called off – Erik ten Hag like ‘boxer knocked down’ says Ferdinand
06:00 , Mike Jones
Ruben Amorim is in talks to become the next manager of Manchester United, with the 39-year-old set to finally take the next step in his coaching career after being linked with some of the biggest jobs in Europe as a result of his impressive work at Sporting Lisbon.
The Portuguese is considering the opportunity to replace Erik ten Hag as United negotiate with Sporting over his release fee. United’s football operations department placed Amorim at the top of their list and are hoping he can be convinced to leave Sporting mid-season.
If United are successful, they will appoint a manager who has been one of the most in-demand coaches in Europe over the last year.
Who is Ruben Amorim? Why Sporting manager is wanted by Manchester United
05:00 , Mike Jones
Manchester United are in talks to try and appoint Ruben Amorim, with the Sporting CP head coach now understood to be considering the opportunity. The Old Trafford hierarchy have put the 39-year-old top of their list, having not considered him during the summer. They are also willing to negotiate with the Portuguese club about a release fee.
United are seeking to impress on Amorim the opportunity that the job presents, in what would almost serve as a clean slate. With interest having grown since the start of the season, Amorim is known to have been reluctant to leave Sporting mid-season. The Portuguese has restored the club to glory, and already has them clear at the top of the table in what would be a third title, after 2020-21 and 2023-24.
Man United in talks to make Amorim new manager to replace Ten Hag
04:00 , Mike Jones
Gary Neville insists the beginning of the end for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United came after the humbling defeat to Tottenham last month.
The Dutch coach was sacked on Monday with the Red Devils languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table following a damaging defeat at West Ham.
And Neville has claimed the decision may have been ultimately made after the 3-0 loss to Spurs at Old Trafford.
Gary Neville reacts to Man Utd sacking Erik ten Hag
03:00 , Mike Jones
The former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea posted a mysterious tweet on X – just hours after Erik ten Hag was sacked by the Old Trafford hierarchy.
De Gea left United in 2023 after contract talks with the club broke down. Erik ten Hag had made clear he planned to sign a goalkeeper who specialised with the ball at his feet, and United brought in Andre Onana that summer.
Now Ten Hag has himself departed after being sacked by the Ineos hierarchy following the weekend’s 2-1 defeat by West Ham United.
Ex-Man Utd goalkeeper David de Gea posts mysterious tweet after Erik ten Hag sacked
02:00 , Mike Jones
It says much about Manchester United’s decision on Monday to sack Erik ten Hag, as well as the club’s long-term indecision, that even the Dutch coach’s great victory offered reasons to make a change. In the days before May’s FA Cup final, the Dutch coach was insistent on going “toe to toe” with Manchester City. It was only after hours of internal debate, led by Darren Fletcher, that Ten Hag relented. He had to be told to go with different tactics.
United still persisted with the manager, even though the decision to make a change had largely been settled on before that final. That stance was revealed with how they essentially interviewed Ten Hag for his own job over the weeks after, in a first big move by the new Ineos football leadership. It immediately undermined another season. United’s multi-headed hierarchy couldn’t ultimately settle on the right replacement, which remains a problem. That, allied with initial fan emotion, was the only reason that the decision was delayed until now.
Even in glory, Erik ten Hag showed why Man Utd had to sack him
01:00 , Mike Jones
Manchester United have sacked Erik ten Hag and put Ruud van Nistelrooy in interim charge after deciding there was no excuse for their current underachievement.
In a unanimous decision by the club’s new hierarchy, the Independent understands, United decided neither results nor performances were good enough to give them reasons to persist with Ten Hag.
United had triggered a one-year contract extension for the Dutchman – though only after speaking to a host of other managers – and in September, new chief executive Omar Berrada said they were “fully backing him” while sporting director Dan Ashworth also gave Ten Hag his support.
Man Utd settle on ‘unanimous’ Erik ten Hag decision due to two clear reasons
00:00 , Mike Jones
There was a time when Manchester United came to West Ham, Wayne Rooney took aim from 57 yards and scored. Many a comparison with the past can damn this United side but, a decade on, Diogo Dalot came to West Ham, took aim at an unguarded goal from eight yards and missed. Whether it was excruciating or merely amusing depends on your perspective, but it was costly, summing up Manchester United’s self-destructive streak.
They contrived to lose a game in which they had been absurdly, astonishingly dominant before the break. Dalot was the worst offender but not the only one. “I collected six or seven 100 percent chances we should have scored,” said Erik Ten Hag. “But in football the best team does not always win.” And United’s finest half of the season still led to a fourth defeat.
The Manchester United failing that may prove the death of Erik ten Hag
Tuesday 29 October 2024 23:24 , Mike Jones
Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim has addressed the reports linking him with the vacant managerial role at Manchester United and says ‘nothing has been decided’.
He spoke to the media following his team’s 3-1 victory over Nacional in the Portuguese league cup on Tuesday evening but refused to confirm whether he will be the man to replace Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
“Nothing is decided yet. I don’t know if it’s the farewell game or not.” said the 39-year-old when asked if he had overseen a Sporting match for the final time.
Ruben Amorim says ‘nothing has been decided’ amid interest from Manchester United
Tuesday 29 October 2024 23:15 , Mike Jones
After Erik ten Hag’s sacking on Monday, Gary Neville told Sky Sports: “The big shock for me is how bad they’ve been with the new signings that have come in.
“I felt as though they would have enough to be able to get a decent level of performance together after a smoother transfer window, and that Erik ten Hag would get a level of stability.
“The fact that they are 14th is unacceptable. You can’t be in 14th after nine or 10 games with the level of spend that’s occurred without being under significant pressure – and that’s what’s happened.
“I was hoping it would end differently. I think Manchester United fans were hoping that the manager would continue to keep his job and the faith shown in him in the summer would pay off. But it’s not been the case.”
Tuesday 29 October 2024 22:38 , Mike Jones
Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim is being heavily linked with a mid-season move to Manchester United after the Red Devils sacked former boss Erik ten Hag on Monday.
Sporting defeated Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup on Tuesday evening and Amorim issued a brief statement on the United situation after the game.
He said: “Nothing is decided yet… I don’t know if it’s the farewell game or not.”
Negotiations between the two clubs continue over a compensation package should Amorim depart.
Tuesday 29 October 2024 22:31 , Mike Jones
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe kept faith with Erik ten Hag following United’s FA Cup victory over Manchester City in May, but Gary Lineker believes there was a “degree of eventuality” regarding the Dutchman’s departure.
Lineker said: “It’s been an ongoing saga, which started in the summer just before the FA Cup (final) when we got wind of the fact United were sounding out other coaches.
“They seemed to go for Thomas Tuchel but he didn’t take the job, then they subsequently went back to Ten Hag. I suppose there was a degree of eventuality about this.”
Lineker read out a list of the new players signed during Ten Hag’s tenure, adding: “It’s not like he’s not been backed. That’s a hell of a lot of money and it hasn’t worked at all.
“His argument will be ‘I’ve won trophies’ and he has, he’s won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, but I think you’ve got to judge managers on their league position.”
Tuesday 29 October 2024 21:45 , Mike Jones
Alan Shearer said Erik ten Hag had been a “dead man walking” after it emerged Manchester United sounded out other managers in the summer.
Ten Hag was sacked as United boss on Monday following a disappointing start to the season, with United confirming Ruud van Nistelrooy will take interim charge.
Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, hosted by fellow former England striker Gary Lineker, Shearer believes Ten Hag’s sacking was inevitable in the end.
He said: “We were just waiting for it to happen. Even the way he was talking that ‘we’re all on the same page’. Well, they weren’t really on the same page because everyone knew they were talking to managers in the summer.
“If they’re on the same page why on earth are they speaking to managers in the summer? As soon as that came out we all said he was a dead man walking, unfortunately.
“For them then to give him a new contract after that was bizarre really, and to back him with £200m, and in nearly four months they’ve sacked him. Bizarre.”
Tuesday 29 October 2024 21:00 , Jamie Braidwood
Re-engage fans
Old Trafford has been beset with an air of toxicity since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013. Although Jose Mourinho had brief success, trouble never seemed far away. Only heroic feats as a player and an amazing spell as interim saved Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from fierce criticism. The new manager has to turn around the atmosphere at the club and have everyone pulling in the same direction.
