Ruben Amorim said on Tuesday that “nothing has been decided yet” after Manchester United made the Sporting manager their top target to replace sacked coach Erik ten Hag. United ended Ten Hag’s two-year reign on Monday after a 2-1 defeat at West Ham left one of the world’s richest clubs 14th in the Premier League. Amorim quickly emerged as the leading contender to replace the Dutchman, and a statement released by Sporting on the Lisbon Stock Exchange said United were prepared to honor his €10 million (£8.3 million, £10.8 million) buyout clause. US dollars).
The 39-year-old was put on guard when he was asked after Sporting’s League Cup victory over Nacional on Tuesday night if it was his last match with the Portuguese club.
“Nobody knows if this was my farewell match. Nothing has been decided yet,” the Portuguese coach said, according to sports newspaper A Bola.
Despite spending heavily in the transfer market over the summer, United have won one of their last eight games in all competitions.
Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed interim coach, but United appear to be focusing on Amorim, who is regarded as one of Europe’s leading young coaches.
Since joining the club in March 2020, he has won two Portuguese league titles with Sporting.
Amorim dismissed the speculation when questioned on Monday ahead of the League Cup match.
“I’m not going to talk about my future,” he said. “I am very proud to be the coach of Sporting Lisbon.
“Incredible Football”
Brighton’s Fabian Hurseler, a young manager already making his way into the Premier League, was asked on Tuesday what advice he would give Amorim if he were to leave Portugal for Old Trafford.
“Thirty-nine and he’s eight years older than me,” Hurtzeler said. “He has already achieved great success in Portugal. I’ve seen a few of his games and he plays incredible football.”
Amorim had been linked with a coaching role at Liverpool following Jurgen Klopp’s departure this year, but Dutch coach Arne Slot headed to Anfield instead.
Ten Hag, 54, was repeatedly called into question after United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, who had made offers to other managers, left him following an internal review at the end of last season when the club finished eighth in the league but won the FA Cup shocking win over Manchester City.
But United, who last won the Premier League in 2013, have shown little improvement this season.
The former Ajax manager, who joined United in May 2022, has fiercely defended his record, arguing he earned respect by winning two trophies in two full seasons.
United ended a six-year wait for trophies by defeating Newcastle in the 2023 League Cup final.
However, in the second season, injuries to key players, the lack of effect from expensive acquisitions such as the Brazilian Anthony and Ten Hag’s failure to implement a clear playing style set him on a path to failure.
United were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage and suffered a string of defeats at Old Trafford last season.
Ten Hag received a boost in the transfer market, spending more than £600 million ($778 million), almost half of which went on former Ajax players.
However, early hopes of the season evaporated as Liverpool and Tottenham won with ease at Old Trafford in September.
In truth, Ten Hag oversaw only a small period of United’s broader decline since the legendary former manager. Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after the club were crowned English champions for a record 20th time.
Since then, there have been five full-time managers.
Speaking after the match on Sunday to preview United’s League Cup tie with Leicester on Wednesday, Ten Hag said he believed winning a trophy in a third season would make him successful.
“It’s definitely about trophies,” he responded in comments embargoed until Tuesday.
“If you win a trophy in professional football, it’s very important because that’s what the fans expect and that’s what we expect, to win a trophy.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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