Ruben Amorim on Friday said that he was told by Manchester United “it was now or never” after being handed a brief midway through the season to restore the struggling Premier League giants to the pinnacle of English and European soccer.
The 39-year-old Sporting Lisbon coach quickly emerged as the hot favorite for the Old Trafford job after Erik ten Hag was sacked on Monday following a terrible start to the season.
Amorim has signed a deal until 2027 and is to join the club on Nov. 11, becoming the sixth permanent manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Amorim said in his first news conference since being given the job that he had endured a whirlwind few days.
“The only question I made was to go at the end of the season, but I was told it was now or never,” Amorim said. “I had three days to make the decision. That’s what I did.”
“If I rejected it now, in six months I would not have got it,” he said. “I didn’t want to regret making this decision.”
Amorim added that he had been approached by other clubs, one of which had offered him “three times” the windfall he would enjoy at United.
United described Amorim as “one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football.”
“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,” a club statement said.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is to remain in temporary charge until Amorim arrives at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese coach is to oversee Sporting’s remaining matches before the international break.
Sporting are to host Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday and Amorim’s final game in charge is set to be against former club Braga in the Champions League on Sunday next week.
He is to take charge of United for the first time on Nov. 24 against Ipswich Town.
Sporting said in a statement that United would pay the Portuguese club 11 million euros (US$12 million) over Amorim’s departure.
United sacked Ten Hag on Monday after a 2-1 defeat against West Ham United left them languishing in 14th in the Premier League, with just three wins from nine matches, despite a huge financial outlay.
The three-time European champions are 21st out of 36 teams in the revamped Europa League after three draws in their three matches so far this season.
Prior to Wednesday’s 5-2 win against Leicester City in the fourth round of the League Cup, United had won just one of their previous eight games in all competitions.
Ten Hag on Friday thanked United fans, saying “my dream was to bring more trophies to the cabinet.”
“Unfortunately, that dream has come to an end,” he said in a statement. “I wish all Manchester United fans nothing but success, trophies and glory.”
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