INEOS are prepared to let Ruben Amorim bring his own coaching team to Manchester United, potentially leaving coaches who’ve only been at Old Trafford since the summer out in the cold.
Amorim, 39, is on the brink of being named United’s new manager following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag on Monday, after a disastrous start to the season. Former Benfica midfielder Amorim plans to bring three coaches from Sporting Lisbon, where he’s clinched the league title twice in four full seasons.
According to Mais Futebol, the Portuguese boss will be accompanied at Old Trafford by Daniel Fernandes, Adelio Candido and goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital. The trio previously worked with Amorim at Braga, his second managerial post, before joining him at Sporting in early 2020.
This doesn’t look promising for United’s current coaching staff, especially goalkeeper coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar, who only joined United in July. Two other Dutchmen, Rene Hake and former Red Devils striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, also arrived over the summer as part-owners INEOS permitted Ten Hag to revamp his coaching team.
Van Nistelrooy will act as United’s interim boss for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round match at home against Leicester City but could step down if Amorim is ready to take the reins against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday. The 39-year-old tactician managed Sporting for what could be the last time on Tuesday, leading them to a 3-1 victory over Nacional to secure a spot in the Portuguese League Cup semi-finals, reports the Mirror.
(Image: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
After the game, Amorim opened up, revealing: “Manchester United is interested, but it’s my choice. Until everything is decided, we won’t be making any noise. I have nothing useful to say. I will take on whatever I want to do, as I have always done. I have always taken responsibility for my decisions and I will be here to do so, but when I am sure of things it will be easier.”
In a twist arriving five hours before kick-off, Sporting had disclosed that United had made their intentions clear, ready to activate Amorim’s €10million (£8.3m) release clause. On the seemingly ill-timed reveal, Amorim conceded: “It’s difficult. It’s almost impossible, it’s football, there was an announcement and it happened on match day. That’s out of your control.”
Amorim added about the pre-match atmosphere: “There was no talk of anything, it was just before the set pieces to get the elephant out of the room. Before the statement was released, I explained to the players everything that was happening. There is nothing more to say.”
With evident disappointment, he acknowledged the fans’ reaction: “Of course they [the fans] are angry. They have a lot of affection for me and my work. I understand that and it’s perfectly natural. If I have the opportunity, and I certainly will, I’ll explain in detail why I decided one thing or another.”
Meanwhile, Portuguese outlets are abuzz with reports speculating that Amorim stands to triple his earnings through a new hefty two-and-a-half-year deal with the Red Devils, purportedly drawing him a salary of £6.65m annually.