Manchester Utd appoints Rúben Amorim as new first team head coach

Manchester United has confirmed the appointment of Rúben Amorim as head coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements.

The 39-year-old Portuguese and former manager of Lisbon club, Sporting, has been handed a contract until June 2027, with a club option of an additional year, once he has fulfilled his obligations to his current club.

He will join Manchester United on Monday, November 11.

Amorim is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football, said United.

Highly decorated as both a player and coach, his titles include winning the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting CP, the first of which was the club’s first title in 19 years.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge of the team until Amorim joins.

Yesterday, van Nistelrooy pledged to help Manchester United in whatever capacity going forward.

Re-joining the club as assistant manager in the summer, the once-prolific striker has stepped up after the club parted ways with Erik ten Hag last Monday.

In his Thursday press conference ahead of United’s home game against Chelsea on Sunday, he said his current role will definitely be a short-term one and that he is dedicated to entertaining the Old Trafford crowd.

He said: “It’s going to be a short job as an interim.

“That was communicated very clear and I was happy with that. I felt that I was called upon to help the club forward in this situation.”

He added: “Obviously, it was difficult, Erik had to leave, I was very disappointed with mixed feelings, but after that, you have to switch the mindset to win because 75,000 people are waiting and celebrating and millions are watching at home.

“That’s what we tried to do and the same for Sunday at least, and then after that we’ll see.”

The club will announce who Amorim’s backroom staff will be at a future date.

Sporting confirmed in a statement that United have agreed to pay 11m euros (£9.25m) to trigger a release clause in Amorim’s contract.

Amorim already has a link with Old Trafford, having spent time at the club in 2018 under then Utd manager and fellow Portuguese, Jose Mourinho, as part of his managerial training.

United currently sit 14th in the Premier League, with only one win from six games. Their eighth spot finish last year was their lowest in the Premier League.