Manchester United are reportedly after Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim to succeed Erik ten Hag following his sacking.
After United’s fourth loss in nine league games at West Ham on Sunday, Dutchman Ten Hag’s time was finally up, as the team now sits 14th in the Premier League.
One of the richest teams in the world has only won one of their previous eight games across all competitions, despite making significant transfer market purchases this season.
Ten Hag’s coaching staff member and former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed interim manager.
Several British media outlets have reported that United wants to hire Amorim, a 39-year-old manager of Sporting Lisbon who is regarded as one of Europe’s top young coaches.
According to Sky Sports, United has spoken with Amorim and is willing to cover his release clause.
After Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool this year, Amorim was rumoured to be the manager, but Dutch coach Arne Slot went to Anfield instead.
The 54-year-old Ten Hag’s job had been under scrutiny ever since United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe hired him after an internal assessment at the end of the previous season, when the team finished seventh in the league but shocked Manchester City to win the FA Cup.
A one-year contract extension to June 2026 was even given to Ten Hag as an incentive.
However, United’s 2-1 loss to West Ham was the last straw as they haven’t improved much this season.
According to a statement released by the club on Monday, “Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.”
In recent weeks, Ten Hag, the former Ajax coach who joined United in May 2022, has vehemently defended his record after winning two titles during his two full seasons as manager.
In the 2023 League Cup final, United defeated Newcastle to snap a six-year trophy drought.
In Ten Hag’s promising first season, the Red Devils also advanced to the FA Cup final and placed third in the Premier League.
But in his second season, things went wrong.
Key player injuries, the ineffectiveness of costly additions like Brazilian attacker Antony, and Ten Hag’s inability to establish a distinct style of play all contributed to a string of disastrous outcomes.
In the 2023–2024 season, Bournemouth, Brighton, and Fulham were among the clubs that triumphed at Old Trafford, although United was eliminated from the Champions League in the group stage.
Off the pitch, there has been a lot of change in recent months due to Ratcliffe’s leadership of United’s adoption of a new sporting organisation.
However, Ten Hag was granted a stay of execution after his unexpected triumph over City, managed by Pep Guardiola, in the FA Cup final.
The acquisition of Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui strengthened his position in the transfer market. Under his leadership, almost £600 million ($778 million) was spent, with nearly half of that amount going to former Ajax players.
However, early optimism this season was dashed in September when Tottenham and Liverpool easily defeated each other 3-0 at Old Trafford.
Despite all of the Dutchman’s shortcomings, he only managed a minor portion of United’s overall slide following the retirement of renowned previous manager Alex Ferguson in 2013.
Five permanent managers have been fired since the Scot’s departure, and United hasn’t even challenged for the Premier League title, which they won 13 times under Ferguson.
