Sporting Lisbon confirmed on Tuesday that Manchester United has shown interest in appointing their Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim, following United’s decision to part ways with Erik Ten Hag.
The English club dismissed Ten Hag on Monday, ending his two-year tenure after a 2-1 loss to West Ham left United in 14th place in the Premier League.
Amorim, 39, quickly emerged as a top contender to succeed Ten Hag after United’s challenging start to the season.
Sporting Lisbon’s official statement to the Lisbon stock exchange disclosed that United is prepared to meet Amorim’s €10 million (£8.3 million, $10.8 million) release clause to secure his services.
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“Manchester United have expressed their interest in recruiting coach Ruben Amorim and are willing to pay the €10 million release clause,” Sporting announced.
Despite United’s heavy investment in players over the summer, they’ve only secured one win in their last eight matches across all competitions.
Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been appointed interim manager, but United’s primary focus appears to be on Amorim, widely regarded as one of Europe’s promising young coaches.
Since joining Sporting in March 2020, Amorim has led the team to two Portuguese league titles.
When asked about his future ahead of Sporting’s League Cup match against Nacional, Amorim downplayed the speculation, stating, “I’m very proud to be the coach of Sporting Lisbon.”
Meanwhile, Fabian Hurzeler, a young manager already making a mark in the Premier League, was asked about advice for Amorim.
Hurzeler, noting Amorim’s accomplishments, remarked, “He’s already achieved great things in Portugal. I’ve seen some of his games; he plays incredible football.”
Previously, Amorim was linked with the Liverpool managerial position after Jurgen Klopp’s departure, but Dutch manager Arne Slot ultimately took the role.
The pressure on Ten Hag, 54, had grown after United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe conducted an internal review post-season.
Although United finished eighth last season, they managed to claim the FA Cup with an unexpected victory over Manchester City.
However, Ten Hag’s tenure faltered due to injuries to key players, underwhelming performances from expensive transfers like Brazilian forward Antony, and difficulties establishing a consistent playing style.
In his two-year stint, Ten Hag spent over £600 million ($778 million) in transfers, half of which was on former Ajax players, yet saw limited returns. United’s hopes for this season waned as Liverpool and Tottenham both clinched easy wins at Old Trafford in September.
Reflecting on his time, Ten Hag had defended his record, noting that winning two trophies was a mark of success, as United ended a six-year wait for silverware with their 2023 League Cup victory over Newcastle.
In a final pre-match interview before his dismissal, Ten Hag expressed his aim for more trophies, saying, “It’s about trophies.
That’s what the fans expect and what we expect.” However, United’s ongoing struggles suggested a larger challenge, one that Amorim may soon be called upon to resolve.
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