Manchester United appears to be closing in on their top managerial candidate, Ruben Amorim, despite the Sporting Lisbon coach’s statement that “nothing has been decided yet” about him taking the reins from Erik ten Hag. As United prepared to face Leicester City in the League Cup at Old Trafford, this being their first match since Ten Hag’s departure, all signs point towards the 39-year-old Amorim as the club’s preferred choice to take over the team. Ten Hag’s tenure was abruptly ended on Monday following a 2-1 defeat to West Ham, leaving United in a disappointing 14th place in the Premier League.
Amorim emerged as the leading candidate soon after Ten Hag’s departure, with Sporting Lisbon confirming in a statement to the Lisbon Stock Exchange on Tuesday that Manchester United had expressed willingness to pay his €10 million release clause. Sky Sports reported on Wednesday that a source within Sporting described Amorim’s move to United as a “done deal,” though the club has not made any official announcement.
When questioned after Sporting’s League Cup win over Nacional on Tuesday, Amorim was noncommittal about his future, stating, “Nobody knows whether this was my farewell match. Nothing is decided yet.”
Despite United’s substantial summer spending spree, Ten Hag’s reign was cut short by a string of poor performances, with the team managing only one win in their last eight matches across all competitions. In the interim, United have appointed former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy as caretaker manager, but Amorim, regarded as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches, is reportedly the frontrunner for the long-term role.
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Since joining Sporting in March 2020, Amorim, a former Portugal international midfielder, has secured two Portuguese league titles, solidifying his reputation as a skilled tactician and effective team leader. He was previously linked with managerial roles at Liverpool following Jurgen Klopp’s departure and held discussions with West Ham earlier this year, though they ultimately chose former Spain coach Julen Lopetegui.
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