Manchester United have appointed Ruben Amorim as Erik ten Hag’s replacement having worked wonders in charge of Sporting.
Manchester United sacked Erik ten Hag last week and have wasted little time in picking out his successor.
United have announced the appointment of Ruben Amorim, landing the Sporting boss on a deal which could run until 2028.
Amorim hasn’t arrived just yet though as the deal was agreed on the provision that he could manage Sporting until the international break.
That left Amorim with three games to manage before joining United, starting with Friday’s thrashing of Estrela Amadora.
Amorim faced off against United hero Nani in that game as he gears up to start work at Old Trafford later this month.
Jose Fonte shares Ruben Amorim insight
Amorim’s first game in charge will come against Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town on November 24, with two more Sporting games to come.
Sporting host Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday night before travelling to face Braga in Amorim’s final game.
Excitement is building around Amorim and his move to United, with Jose Fonte now adding to the hype.
Former Southampton defender Fonte has told BBC Radio Five Live that he thinks Amorim’s Sporting exit was just a matter of time.
Fonte – a Euro 2016 winner alongside Cristiano Ronaldo with Portugal – noted that former Sporting defender Luis Neto has told him all about Amorim’s brilliance, but also about his tendency to go into a little too much detail.
Fonte added that Sporting’s football under Amorim is simply ‘incredible’ and has heard from his brother Rui – who played under Amorim at Braga – that the new United boss is ‘obsessed’ with football.
Now with Casa Pia, one of Amorim’s former clubs, Fonte feels that Amorim is ‘something special’ and can’t wait to see him in the United dugout.
“It was only a question of time that he would be moving to a bigger club,” said Fonte.
“What I like about him is that he has his philosophy, he has his own ideas. I was speaking with one of his ex-players, Luis Neto, and he was telling me that he’s one of them managers that has this attention to detail, you know, and sometimes it can be even a little bit too much, he was telling me.
“But that’s what makes the difference in my opinion. I think he has the ability to be a great success at Man United, I know him personally. I have played against Sporting a couple of times now and I know how hard it is to play against this team.
“The way Sporting plays at the moment, for example, it’s incredible. They have threats in behind, they have threats in between the lines, they build up, they press, they know exactly what to do in every situation of the game, so I’m really looking forward to seeing him in the job.
“My brother, he was managed by him, I spoke many times with my brother about Ruben, even before he was linked with Man United and what he said to me is that he’s obsessed. He’s obsessed with football, with training, with coaching and this is something very important if you want to be one of the best and and he’s such a young manager but in every job he’s had, he’s had so much success and that tells you something – he has something special,” he added.
Amorim arrives in incredible form
United fans are looking for a saviour, somebody who can really take the club forward after more than a decade up ups and downs since Sir Alex Ferguson’s exit.
Amorim could be that man but he certainly needs time given that he is still only 39.
Amorim has won two league titles at Sporting and has certainly earned his big step up to the United hot seat.
Sporting have been in sensational form under Amorim this season, winning all 10 of their league games this term.
35 goals scored and just three conceded is a remarkable record and Sporting are certainly looking like title challengers once again.
United are now hoping that Amorim can bring his Sporting form to Old Trafford, solving the issues at both ends of the pitch in the process.
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