Ruben Amorim, who currently manages Portuguese side Sporting CP, has now emerged as the likely candidate to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, according to multiple credible sources close to the situation.
In fact, Sporting CP themselves released a statement this afternoon, stating that there is interest from Manchester United to hire their coach, provided that he agrees and they are willing to pay a fee. Because Sporting CP is listed on the stock market, they are required to report to a Portuguese financial regulator (CMVM) of any significant financial deals impacting the club.
Their statement to the CMVM read: “Sporting comes, under the terms and for the purpose of fulfilling the information obligation arising from the provisions of Article 17.º of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014, of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 16, inform the market in the following terms: “1. Manchester United FC expressed interest in hiring coach Rúben Amorim, and the Board of Directors of Sporting SAD referred to the terms and conditions provided for in the employment contract in force between the Company and the coach, specifically for the respective termination clause and for the amount of Euro 10,000,000.00;
“2. Manchester United FC expressed interest in paying Sporting SAD the amount of said clause.”
Amorim had also reportedly caught the interest of other clubs such as Liverpool, West Ham, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona — although he ultimately decided to extend his deal with Sporting. Now, with the Manchester United job vacant following the sacking of Erik ten Hag, it appears Amorim is ready to make the jump to the Premier League.
The Lisbon-born manager has made Sporting the best team in Portugal, having won the league last season and being praised for their style of football. Sporting are now reportedly eyeing their B-team coach, Joao Periera, to take over for Amorim.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is currently the interim coach at Manchester United and is set to face Leicester in the EFL Cup this Wednesday, before a major showdown against Chelsea at the weekend.
Manchester United captain and compatriot Bruno Fernandes spoke highly of Amorim in a press conference last month, saying “I spoke about (Amorim) several times and I said that at this moment he is well prepared because it is not easy to win titles at Sporting. Sporting was 20 years without winning trophies. Mr. Amorim came and won two and that proves his work has been good.
“Now, if he will be able to do the same in England or Spain or anywhere else? We’ll never know until he gets there but I’m sure that Mr. Amorim qualities are there in everyone’s eyes.”
