Ruben Amorim will become the next head coach of Manchester United, but will not take over until November. United completed a deal early on Thursday that will see them pay $10.9 million to terminate the Sporting manager’s contract, in addition to an additional $1.1 million that will see the 39-year-old complete his notice period just shy of the expiry of a month can end.
According to CBS Sports sources, an announcement on Amorim’s appointment is expected within the next 24 hours, but the new United manager will remain in Lisbon for the time being. Amorim, who sources say wanted to leave Sporting “through the front door”, will remain in place for the next three matches and will say goodbye to the Jose Alvalade Stadium in a Champions League match against Manchester City, ahead of his final match, out to Braga.
Amorim is then due to be in Manchester on November 11, where he will have almost two weeks to prepare for his first match in charge, away to Ipswich Town. Before then, interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy will lead preparations for matches against Chelsea, PAOK and Leicster City.
It is unclear whether Van Nistelrooy, who defeated Leicester 5-2 in his first match in the last 16 of the EFL Cup, will remain in charge once Amorim takes charge. Part of the extra compensation United pays is that the new head coach can bring his staff with him. It is believed that Amorim will be joined by five of his Sporting colleagues, including coaches Manuel Ferro, Adelio Candido and Carlos Fernandes. He is also expected to add a goalkeeping coach and sports scientist to United’s ranks.
“I came here as an assistant to help the club,” Van Nistelrooy said after the win over Leicester. “Now I will help in this role for as long as necessary. In the future, in whatever capacity, I am here to help the club continue to build the future. That is what I am here for.”
Sporting is expected to replace Amorim with B team head coach Joao Pereira.