Breaking: Man Utd appoint Amorim and Confirm start date

Man Utd have confirmed the appointment of Ruben Amorim as their new head coach; the Portuguese, 39, will depart Sporting this month and replaces Erik ten Hag; Amorim will join United on November 11 with his first match on November 24 at Ipswich Town, live on Sky Sports

Ruben Amorim has been appointed as the new Manchester United head coach and will join on November 11, once he has fulfilled his obligations with Sporting.

Amorim has signed a contract until June 2027, with the option of a further year, and will take charge of his first United match at Ipswich on November 24, live on Sky Sports.

United have paid Sporting an extra €1m (£840,000) on top of his €10m (£8.4m) exit clause for an early release from his 30-day notice period.

He replaces Erik ten Hag who was sacked last month while Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge of the first team until Amorim joins.

United host Chelsea on Sunday, live on Sky Sports. It has not yet been decided if Van Nistelrooy will be part of Amorim’s coaching staff.

Sky Sports News understands Amorim was Man Utd’s top target, and the only coach they spoke to during this recruitment process.

Amorim is the first United boss to have the title of head coach rather than manager.

Who is Amorim?

A former Benfica and Portugal midfielder, Amorim retired as a player in 2017 and two years later took up his first managerial job at Braga.

The Portuguese then joined Sporting in March 2020, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most sought-after young coaches, twice guiding the club to the Primeira Liga title.

Amorim has also won the Taca da Liga – the Portuguese League Cup – on three occasions, twice with Sporting and once with Braga.

Why Amorim could be right coach for Man Utd?

It has long been inevitable that Ruben Amorim would take one of Europe’s biggest jobs. Winning the title with Sporting in 2021 at the age of 36 all but guaranteed that. Repeating the feat last season only underlined his ability as a coach.

Sporting recognised that this was a special talent very early, famously paying a huge release clause after his spectacular start at Braga. They bet on his tactical mind, his fierce commitment as a player, but more than anything on the power of his personality.

In conversation with a series of Portuguese coaches, some of whom have pitted their wits against Amorim in his native country, we will explore his rise, what it is that makes him so impressive as a coach, and, crucially, whether this can be translated into his next job.

–Skysports