chief football news reporter Simon Stone
Although Amorim likened the situation around Manchester United’s managerial situation to a “soap opera”, the Premier League club actually acted pretty quickly.
Once it had been decided Ten Hag had to go following Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham, United knew who they wanted and sent chief executive Omar Berrada to Lisbon on Monday to speak to Sporting directly.
The interim period has been spent negotiating down a 30-day notice period.
It quickly became obvious Amorim was not going to be in the dugout for United’s Premier League game against Chelsea this weekend, which took some of the pressure off and while there was a hope Sporting may release the 39-year-old early, that did not happen either.
It is thought Amorim is earning about £3m a year with Sporting. It is estimated he will more than treble his salary at United to about £10m.
That puts him way behind Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola – but will move him into the Premier League’s high earners.
Under the circumstances, Old Trafford officials feel they have ended up with a satisfactory situation that allows Van Nistelrooy to stay in charge for another three home games.
Despite reports to the contrary, United officials are adamant the club did not speak to anyone else about their vacancy, having decided Amorim fits their structure, headed up by sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox. It completes the overhaul triggered by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s part-purchase on Christmas Eve last year.
United have focused on Amorim’s style of play, personality, development of young players and energy as the key characteristics that make him suited to the role, although there is no suggestion Ten Hag lacked these qualities.
United feel they have recruited what club officials are calling “the most exciting young coach in Europe”. Their optimism about the future has been familiar around all their previous managers post Ferguson.
This appointment is the first of the Ineos era. Club officials know after all the talk, Ratcliffe will take full responsibility for what happens going forward.
