The expected script seems to be running its course, despite the great result that Manchester United achieved on Wednesday night at Old Trafford. The 5-2 win over Leicester has not made the English club’s directors think that a legend like Ruud Van Nistelrooy could do well in the home dugout at Old Trafford. The Red Devils already have a new official occupant. As has been announced since Erik Ten Hag was sacked, Ruben Amorim has signed as the new Manchester United coach until 2027, extendable for a further year, and will receive around 7-8 million euros for each season. However, the appointment, according to the club’s statement, is subject to work visa requirements
And he does so not without having created, on the one hand, a certain stir in England at his unusual inexperience in a high-profile league such as the Premier League and, on the other, because he leaves Sporting CP somewhat helpless, although they are unbeaten leaders in Portugal, with 30 goals in nine games.
He will not fly imminently, however. The agreement reached with the Lisbon team is that it will be until the next international break, that is. Amorim will remain in charge for Sporting CP’s next three matches: against Estrela Amadora, against Manchester City next Tuesday in the Champions League; and the always competitive clash against Braga away from home. He will therefore join United on November 11.
This will be the starting point for a coach who will renew the Portuguese links with the Red Devils dressing room, as Carlos Queiroz did as Sir Alex Ferguson‘s assistant or Jose Mourinho, in the short year and a half he was in charge of United and with whom he won the Europa League in 2016/17, their last international title.
Debut date, November 24
After the international break, Ruben Amorim will make his debut as Manchester United’s new manager at Ipswich Town, who are currently 18th in the Premier League and have yet to win a game.
In this sense, the Portuguese will have some time to acclimatise to the Carrington facilities and coincide with the few non-international players in the squad. He will have a total of two weeks, from the 10th, when he will lead the Lisbon club against Braga (his former team), to face the almost unfathomable task of restoring Manchester United to all the footballing authority that the English team has possessed. Will he succeed?
