Manchester United is set to announce Ruben Amorim as its new manager on Thursday after reaching an agreement with Sporting Lisbon, multiple reports indicate. According to The Athletic, the 39-year-old Amorim will remain with Sporting for their next three games, including a Champions League clash against Manchester City next week, before assuming his role at Old Trafford.
Amorim’s tenure with United is expected to officially begin during the November international break, with his debut match slated for United’s away game against Ipswich on November 24. Sky Sports reported that United paid an additional €1 million, on top of Amorim’s €10 million ($11 million) release clause, to secure his early release from Sporting. Sporting confirmed on Tuesday that United had agreed to meet the exit terms, as disclosed in a statement to the Lisbon stock exchange.
The move comes just days after United dismissed Erik ten Hag following a 2-1 loss to West Ham, which left the club languishing at 14th in the Premier League. Amorim quickly rose to the top of United’s shortlist as the preferred candidate to lead the club.
In the interim, caretaker manager Ruud van Nistelrooy led United to a morale-boosting 5-2 victory over Leicester City in the League Cup’s fourth round on Wednesday. “I came here as an assistant to help the club,” Van Nistelrooy commented. “I’m helping as long as I’m needed and, in the future, in any capacity, I’m here to help the club build towards the future.”
Despite a busy summer transfer window, Ten Hag’s dismissal followed a disappointing start to the season, with United securing only one win in their last eight matches across all competitions before Wednesday’s victory.
