Manchester United are in talks with Ruben Amorim after Erik ten Hag was sacked just weeks into the season.
The Sporting coach is understood to be considering the opportunity after the Old Trafford hierarchy put the 39-year-old at the top of their list to replace Ten Hag, who was relieved of his duties just four months after signing a one-year contract extension.
United made their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign under Ten Hag and former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will take interim charge while the search for a permanent head coach is conducted.
There has also been interest in Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna and Brentford’s Thomas Frank while Spain legend and former Barcelona boss Xavi is available.
Follow all the reaction to Ten Hag’s sacking and updates on United’s new manager search in our live blog below
Manchester United new manager: Latest news and updates
- Manchester United in talks to make Ruben Amorim new manager
- Erik ten Hag sacked by Manchester United - full club statement
- United made worst start to Premier League season after nine games
Sporting star could follow Ruben Amorim to Premier League
09:25
Jack Rathborn
One of Ruben Amorim’s star players, Viktor Gyokeres, could be on the move next summer.
With Rasmus Hojlund already at the club, the Sweden striker’s options in the Premier League appear to be elsewhere, should Amorim take over at United.
His release clause is set at €100m, reports Sky Sport’s Florian Plettenberg, but an agreement is in place for a transfer set at €60-70m.
Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are reportedly interested following his blazing start to the season, including 18 goals and seven assists.
Ruben Amorim responds to Manchester United links as talks progress
09:10
Jamie Braidwood
Sporting play Nacional in the quarter-finals of the Taca de Liga cup on Tuesday night, and Amorim appeared at a press conference on Monday - hours after Ten Hag was sacked.
He was asked out the vacancy at Manchester United but refused to discuss another job out of respect for Sporting, who he is reluctant to leave mid-season.
Sporting have a 100 per cent record in the league this season and are course to win a third league title under Amorim.
Manchester United set deadline for Ruben Amorim deal
08:55
Jamie Braidwood
Ruben Amorim refused to talk about his future at Sporting Lisbon as Manchester United opened discussions with the Portuguese over becoming their next permanent manager.
The 39-year-old is considering the opportunity to replace Erik ten Hag with United willing to negotiate with Sporting over Amorim’s release fee.
There has been considerable progress in early talks, but United want an answer from him by the weekend.
Manchester United in talks to make Ruben Amorim new manager to replace Erik ten Hag
08:40
Jamie Braidwood
Manchester United are in talks to try and appoint Ruben Amorim, with the Sporting head coach understood to be considering the opportunity to replace Erik ten Hag. The Old Trafford hierarchy have put the 39-year-old top of their list, having not considered him during the summer. They are also willing to negotiate with the Portuguese club about a release fee that is within the region of €10m (£8.3m).
United are seeking to impress on Amorim the opportunity that the job presents and there has been considerable progress on talks, to the point that Amorim’s coaching staff has been discussed.
Ruben Amorim responds to Manchester United links: ‘I was expecting that question'
08:24
Jack Rathborn
"I was expecting that question, and obviously I am not going to talk about my future," Ruben Amorim says.
"I am not going to speak about my future because no matter what I say I'd have to always talk about it. Since the first day, I said it was not worthy to ask about it and I am not going to make any comments about my future.”
Pushed on whether he is proud to even be linked with the Manchester United job, Amorim simply responds: “I am very proud of being Sporting head coach.”
Manchester United vs Leicester team news: Predicted XI for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first game as interim manager
08:00
Mike Jones
Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of Manchester United’s Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City in their first match since the sacking of Erik ten Hag.
The former United striker has been placed in interim charge while a permanent head coach is appointed after Ten Hag was dismissed.
Ten Hag was sacked after United made their worst ever start to a Premier League season and with the club 14th in the table, having won just once in eight games.
Thomas Frank responds to Manchester United manager links after Erik ten Hag sacked
07:00
Mike Jones
Thomas Frank said he is “very, very happy” at Brentford but did not rule out leaving the club in the future if there was an “opportunity” that interested him after Erik ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United.
Frank has developed a reputation as one of the most innovative coaches in Europe since taking Brentford to the Premier League and was reportedly one of several managers to hold talks with United over the summer as the club sounded out potential replacements for Ten Hag.
United instead opted to back Ten Hag and trigger a one-year contract extension, but results failed to improve and the Dutchman was dismissed on Monday after the club’s worst start to a Premier League season.
Manchester United settle on ‘unanimous’ Erik ten Hag decision due to two clear reasons
06:00
Mike Jones
Manchester United have sacked Erik ten Hag and put Ruud van Nistelrooy in interim charge after deciding there was no excuse for their current underachievement.
In a unanimous decision by the club’s new hierarchy, the Independent understands, United decided neither results nor performances were good enough to give them reasons to persist with Ten Hag.
United had triggered a one-year contract extension for the Dutchman – though only after speaking to a host of other managers – and in September, new chief executive Omar Berrada said they were “fully backing him” while sporting director Dan Ashworth also gave Ten Hag his support.
Even in glory, Erik ten Hag showed why Manchester United had to sack him
05:00
Mike Jones
It says much about Manchester United’s decision on Monday to sack Erik ten Hag, as well as the club’s long-term indecision, that even the Dutch coach’s great victory offered reasons to make a change. In the days before May’s FA Cup final, the Dutch coach was insistent on going “toe to toe” with Manchester City. It was only after hours of internal debate, led by Darren Fletcher, that Ten Hag relented. He had to be told to go with different tactics.
United still persisted with the manager, even though the decision to make a change had largely been settled on before that final. That stance was revealed with how they essentially interviewed Ten Hag for his own job over the weeks after, in a first big move by the new Ineos football leadership. It immediately undermined another season. United’s multi-headed hierarchy couldn’t ultimately settle on the right replacement, which remains a problem. That, allied with initial fan emotion, was the only reason that the decision was delayed until now.
Erik ten Hag sacked by Manchester United
04:00
Mike Jones
Erik ten Hag has been sacked by Manchester United after the club’s worst start to a Premier League season and just four months on from being handed a contract extension at Old Trafford.
United have won just three of their opening nine league games of the campaign, including Sunday’s late 2-1 defeat at West Ham, with Ten Hag failing to impress United’s new club ownership.
The decision was confirmed on Monday and former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was Ten Hag’s assistant, will take interim charge with immediate effect.
Next Manchester United manager odds: Two-horse race tipped after Erik ten Hag sacked
03:00
Mike Jones
Manchester United are looking for a new manager after Erik ten Hag was sacked following a poor start to the season.
United are 14th in the Premier League after nine games, and lie 21st in the Europa League table have failed to win any of their opening three fixtures.
The defeat by West Ham United on the weekend was ironically one of the team’s better performances under Ten Hag this season, but it proved to be the final straw for the Ineos ownership as a string of missed chances resulted in a 2-1 loss.
Garncaho responds to Ten Hag’s departure
02:00
Mike Jones
Alejandro Garnacho wrote on Instagram and wished Erik ten Hag all the best.
He said: “Thank you for everything, boss. I will always be grateful to you for giving me the opportunity and the confidence to play for this club.
“It hasn’t gone as well as we wanted, but I will remember the good times we had together and I wish you all the best in the future. Thank you very much Erik.”
Fight’s been called off – Erik ten Hag like ‘boxer knocked down’ says Ferdinand
00:00
Mike Jones
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand likened Erik ten Hag’s reign to a boxer getting “knocked down” and “never recovering”.
Ten Hag was sacked as United first-team manager on Monday following a disappointing start to the season.
They slipped into 14th in the Premier League table following their fourth league defeat of the season, by West Ham on Sunday.
Speculation had mounted over the Dutchman’s position in recent weeks and Ferdinand admitted he was unsurprised to see the boss go.
Ten Hag’s side conceded late goals
Monday 28 October 2024 23:30
Mike Jones
26% - Seven of Erik ten Hag’s 27 Premier League defeats came via a 90th minute winner, the highest percentage of defeats to 90th minute goals of any manager to lose 20+ games in Premier League history.
United’s record this season
Monday 28 October 2024 23:00
Mike Jones
Manchester United have won just four times from their opening 13 games in all competitions in the 2024/25 with one of those wins coming against League One side Barnsley.
Just three wins from nine in the Premier League, United sit in 14th place - already 12 points behind leaders Manchester City and just seven points off the bottom three.
They have scored just eight times in the league, with only bottom club Southampton and Crystal Palace having scored fewer goals (six).
United remain winless in the Europa League, having taken the lead in all three fixtures before having to settle for a draw.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s coaching history: From PSV success to Manchester United interim
Monday 28 October 2024 22:30
Mike Jones
Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of Manchester United on an interim basis after Erik ten Hag was sacked with the club 14th in the Premier League table.
The former United striker has been installed as head coach and will be supported by the current coaching team at Old Trafford whilst a permanent appointment is made.
Van Nistelrooy returned to Manchester United in the summer as Ten Hag’s coaching staff was overhauled, with Rene Hake and Andreas Georgson also recruited.
Ten Hag’s highs and lows
Monday 28 October 2024 22:00
Mike Jones
High - Man United 2-1 Man City, May 2024
United produced their finest performance under Ten Hag as the Dutch boss got his tactics spot on to come out on top in his FA Cup final battle with Pep Guardiola.
A fantastic first-half display was capped by goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo and Ten Hag’s men stood firm in the second to condemn the champions to a shock defeat.
Low - Crystal Palace 4-0 Man United, May 2024
United had all but seen their hopes of sneaking into Europe slip away by the time they travelled to Selhurst Park for their penultimate away game of the season.
What followed was a chaotic performance in which they were ripped to shreds by a Palace side who looked sharper, fitter and more organised, leaving Ten Hag’s position looking more precarious than ever.
Ten Hag’s highs and lows
Monday 28 October 2024 21:45
Mike Jones
High - Man United 4-1 Chelsea, May 2023
Chelsea were swept aside at Old Trafford in the final home game of the season, a win that ensured the team would be playing in Europe’s top club competition after a year away.
Low - Liverpool 7-0 Man United, March 2023
United were 10 points clear of their northwest rivals and had already beaten them at home earlier in the campaign, but the manner of their capitulation at Anfield left the manager facing the ignominy of having overseen the club’s heaviest ever defeat to Liverpool.
Ten Hag’s highs and lows
Monday 28 October 2024 21:30
Mike Jones
High - Man United 2-1 Barcelona, February 2023
Barca were on track to be crowned LaLiga champions, despite having dropped out of the Champions League into the Europa League, but United rolled back the years to some of their greatest European nights with a win that saw them go through 4-3 on aggregate.
Low - Man City 6-3 Man United, October 2022
The team had recovered from losing Ten Hag’s first two league fixtures to record four consecutive wins, but illusions of a smooth upward trajectory were shattered at the Etihad Stadium as City demonstrated their clear superiority to put six past their rivals for just the second time in the Premier League era.
Ten Hag’s highs and lows
Monday 28 October 2024 21:15
Mike Jones
High - Man United 2-0 Newcastle, February 2023
Victory in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley handed Ten Hag a major domestic trophy after just eight months in the job and, with the team looking on course to return to the Champions League, the manager’s rebuild looked to be well on track.
Low - Brentford 4-0 Man United, August 2022
United had already lost their first league game of Ten Hag’s tenure against Brighton at Old Trafford, but the true size of his task was laid bare a week later in west London as Brentford hit four goals inside the opening 35 minutes to leave the visitors bottom of the league.
Why was Erik ten Hag sacked?
Monday 28 October 2024 21:00
Mike Jones
Sources have said that Erik ten Hag’s sacking was a difficult and finely balanced decision, but a collective and unanimous by the hierarchy.
They had wanted to give Ten Hag the opportunity to work within a new sporting structure, but the results and performances at the start of the season have not been good enough.
United felt they were not seeing the momentum and progress to believe they were improving and developing. The Red Devils have also had a poor start in the Europa League having failed to win their first three games from winning positions.
‘Thanks for everything boss’
Monday 28 October 2024 20:30
Mike Jones
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has posted on Instagram after Erik ten Hag’s sacking.
He wrote: “Thanks for everything boss! I appreciate the trust and the moments we share together, I wish you all the best in the future.
“Even knowing the last period hasn’t been great from all of us I hope you fans can keep with you the good things the manager has done for our club!”
Talks progressing between Manchester United and Ruben Amorim
Monday 28 October 2024 20:19
Jamie Braidwood
There has been considerable progress on talks between Manchester United and Ruben Amorim, to the point that coaching staff has been discussed.
Manchester United willing to meet release clause for Amorim
Monday 28 October 2024 20:00
Jamie Braidwood
Reports on Monday evening suggested Manchester United were moving quickly to replace Ten Hag and were willing to pay the £8.3m release clause to secure 39-year-old Amorim, whose Sporting Lisbon side sit top of the Portuguese table.
Amorim has won two Portuguese titles and two League Cups with Sporting since joining the club in March 2020.
Man Utd looking to beat Man City to Ruben Amorim if Pep Guardiola leaves
Monday 28 October 2024 19:45
Miguel Delaney
Ruben Amorim attracted the interest of virtually every elite club in Europe, with Liverpool having been close to the appointment before Arne Slot in the summer, and Manchester City earmarking him as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola. Talk on the latter has increased given that City are appointing Sporting’s director of football Hugo Viana as Txiki Begiristain’s successor at the end of the season.
Man United in talks to make Ruben Amorim new manager to replace Erik ten Hag
Monday 28 October 2024 19:29
Miguel Delaney
Manchester United are in talks to try and appoint Ruben Amorim, with the Sporting CP head coach now understood to be considering the opportunity. The Old Trafford hierarchy have put the 39-year-old top of their list, having not considered him during the summer. They are also willing to negotiate with the Portuguese club about a release fee.
United are seeking to impress on Amorim the opportunity that the job presents, in what would almost serve as a clean slate. With interest having grown since the start of the season, Amorim is known to have been reluctant to leave Sporting mid-season. The Portuguese has restored the club to glory, and already has them clear at the top of the table in what would be a third title, after 2020-21 and 2023-24.
‘I thought it was coming’; Gary Neville reacts to Ten Hag sacking
Monday 28 October 2024 19:15
Mike Jones
Gary Neville has given some thoughts on the sacking of Erik ten Hag saying: “I thought it was coming, looking at Tottenham, I thought I’d seen this before and know how it ends. It was a bad day for Ten Hag, everybody thought that would be the day we would kick on, but it’s got worse. Missing chances yesterday was unacceptable, the decision was a bad one.
“The challenges of the performances, the owners have decided to sack Ten Hag, I don’t think anybody will be shocked.
“There will be those that say they have been proven right, fans wanted to continue with Ten Hag, give him an opportunity to succeed under a new structure. The shock has been how bad they’ve been, the new signings, to get a good performance and some stability. 14th? It’s unacceptable. The spend that’s occurred. I was hoping it would end differently, the faith shown in him would pay off, but it’s not the case.”
Next Manchester United manager odds: Two-horse race tipped after Erik ten Hag sacked
Monday 28 October 2024 19:00
Mike Jones
Manchester United are looking for a new manager after Erik ten Hag was sacked following a poor start to the season.
United are 14th in the Premier League after nine games, and lie 21st in the Europa League table having failed to win any of their opening three fixtures.
The defeat by West Ham United on the weekend was ironically one of the team’s better performances under Ten Hag this season, but it proved to be the final straw for the Ineos ownership as a string of missed chances resulted in a 2-1 loss.
Bruno Fernandes sends message to Erik ten Hag after Manchester United sack manager
Monday 28 October 2024 18:45
Mike Jones
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes thanked Erik ten Hag in a social media post shortly after the Dutchman was sacked just nine games into the Premier League season.
Ten Hag won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in his two-and-a-half years in charge and made Fernandes his captain after taking the armband off Harry Maguire in July 2023.
But United slumped to their worst-ever Premier League finish of 8th last campaign and results did not improve this season with just one win in their last eight games in all competitions.
Gary Neville reacts to Man Utd sacking Erik ten Hag and the moment he knew it was all over
Monday 28 October 2024 18:30
Mike Jones
Gary Neville insists the beginning of the end for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United came after the humbling defeat to Tottenham last month.
The Dutch coach was sacked on Monday with the Red Devils languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table following a damaging defeat at West Ham.
And Neville has claimed the decision may have been ultimately made after the 3-0 loss to Spurs at Old Trafford.
Even in glory, Erik ten Hag showed why Manchester United had to sack him
Monday 28 October 2024 18:00
Mike Jones
It says much about Manchester United’s decision on Monday to sack Erik ten Hag, as well as the club’s long-term indecision, that even the Dutch coach’s great victory offered reasons to make a change. In the days before May’s FA Cup final, the Dutch coach was insistent on going “toe to toe” with Manchester City. It was only after hours of internal debate, led by Darren Fletcher, that Ten Hag relented. He had to be told to go with different tactics.
United still persisted with the manager, even though the decision to make a change had largely been settled on before that final. That stance was revealed with how they essentially interviewed Ten Hag for his own job over the weeks after, in a first big move by the new Ineos football leadership. It immediately undermined another season. United’s multi-headed hierarchy couldn’t ultimately settle on the right replacement, which remains a problem. That, allied with initial fan emotion, was the only reason that the decision was delayed until now.
Erik ten Hag admits ‘luck not on my side’ in final Man United press conference
Monday 28 October 2024 17:49
Mike Jones
Erik ten Hag admitted luck was “not on his side” in his final Manchester United press conference as manager on Sunday, 27 October.
It came after United slipped to their fourth Premier League defeat of the season at West Ham. They now sit in the bottom half of the table, having won one of their last eight games in all competitions.
In a statement, the club thanked Ten Hag for his work and wished him well for the future. Ruud van Nistelrooy has been named interim head coach as United recruit a permanent head coach.
Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea posts mysterious tweet after Erik ten Hag sacked
Monday 28 October 2024 17:40
Mike Jones
The former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea posted a mysterious tweet on X – just hours after Erik ten Hag was sacked by the Old Trafford hierarchy.
De Gea left United in 2023 after contract talks with the club broke down. Erik ten Hag had made clear he planned to sign a goalkeeper who specialised with the ball at his feet, and United brought in Andre Onana that summer.
Now Ten Hag has himself departed after being sacked by the Ineos hierarchy following the weekend’s 2-1 defeat by West Ham United.
Garncaho responds to Ten Hag’s departure
Monday 28 October 2024 17:33
Mike Jones
Alejandro Garnacho wrote on Instagram and wished Erik ten Hag all the best.
He said: “Thank you for everything, boss. I will always be grateful to you for giving me the opportunity and the confidence to play for this club.
“It hasn’t gone as well as we wanted, but I will remember the good times we had together and I wish you all the best in the future.Thank you very much Erik.”
Manchester United settle on ‘unanimous’ Erik ten Hag decision due to two clear reasons
Monday 28 October 2024 17:27
Mike Jones
Manchester United have sacked Erik ten Hag and put Ruud van Nistelrooy in interim charge after deciding there was no excuse for their current underachievement.
In a unanimous decision by the club’s new hierarchy, the Independent understands, United decided neither results nor performances were good enough to give them reasons to persist with Ten Hag.
United had triggered a one-year contract extension for the Dutchman – though only after speaking to a host of other managers – and in September, new chief executive Omar Berrada said they were “fully backing him” while sporting director Dan Ashworth also gave Ten Hag his support.
Who will be the next Man Utd manager? Runners and riders for the Old Trafford hot seat
Monday 28 October 2024 17:21
Mike Jones
Kieran McKenna
The Northern Irishman is highly thought of at United, having impressed as Under-18s manager during a two-year spell. He later became assistant to Jose Mourinho, and then a coach under Solskjaer.
McKenna led Ipswich to promotion from the Championship last season playing an attacking brand of football with an emphasis on pressing and hard running. But the transition to the Premier League has proved predictably tough so far, with no wins from nine games.
The 38-year-old is considered one of the most promising young British coaches around, and held discussions with the Ineos hierarchy in the summer before they decided to extend Ten Hag’s contract.
Who will be the next Man Utd manager? Runners and riders for the Old Trafford hot seat
Monday 28 October 2024 17:14
Mike Jones
Michael Carrick
Much like his playing days, the former Manchester United midfielder has been quietly impressing as the manager of Middlesbrough.
Carrick took over in October 2022 and quickly instilled a slick, attractive passing style which brought immediate results. Boro finished fourth in his first season, before losing in the play-off semi-finals to Coventry City. They finished just outside the play-offs in eighth last season and are currently ninth in the table after 12 games played.
Carrick is a popular figure at Old Trafford and has experience as a United coach under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. When Solskjaer was sacked, Carrick took interim charge for three games and oversaw two wins and a draw.
Who will be the next Man Utd manager? Runners and riders for the Old Trafford hot seat
Monday 28 October 2024 17:07
Mike Jones
Thomas Frank
The Danish manager has built a reputation as an intelligent, pragmatic coach after guiding Brentford to the Premier League and keeping them there. They are currently ninth in the table, five places and four points above United.
Speaking recently on the Sports Agents podcast, Frank said: “I am probably at one of the best clubs in the world. End of discussion. In terms of alignment, leadership, culture, everything. Why should I ever leave this place?
“Things can happen and you can want new inspiration, maybe you find another inspiration at your club and you stay. For sure, if I ever got the offer to go to a big club and I decided to go there, it would probably not make my life better. I think we all know that.
“Maybe it is a challenge you need to try. It is not something I am thinking about.”
Who will be the next Man Utd manager? Runners and riders for the Old Trafford hot seat
Monday 28 October 2024 17:00
Mike Jones
Xavi Hernandez
The former Barcelona manager has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent days, but he is currently on a year’s sabbatical and has stated his preference to take time out of the game.
Xavi’s stock shot up after leading Barca to the Liga in 2022/23 – their first title for four years – but he was sacked at the end of last season following a major downturn in results.
Who will be the next Man Utd manager? Runners and riders for the Old Trafford hot seat
Monday 28 October 2024 16:54
Mike Jones
Gareth Southgate
The former England manager is still out of work after leaving the national team following defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final, and is known to be admired by United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his director of sport at Ineos, Sir Dave Brailsford.
Southgate’s club coaching experience is limited, having taken charge of Middlesbrough for three years and left 15 years ago, so Southgate is reliant on his work with England to convince United’s Ineos owners he has what it takes to lead a Premier League giant.
He was hugely popular with the England players and came within a penalty shout of delivering men’s major silverware for the first time since 1966. He also showed an adeptness at handling media scrutiny and difficult topics, from the infamous bust-up between Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez, to the racist abuse of his players, to relentless criticism of his own shortcomings.
But those shortcomings became so magnified that his role effectively became untenable. In particular, Southgate was condemned for a hesitation to make substitutions and in-game tactical changes, as well as a broadly pragmatic approach that lacked adventure.
Who will be the next Man Utd manager? Runners and riders for the Old Trafford hot seat
Monday 28 October 2024 16:48
Mike Jones
Ruben Amorim
Amorim is one of the most highly regarded young coaches in European football and has been linked with a number of managerial posts in recent months, from Barcelona to Chelsea.
The midfielder enjoyed a successful playing career with Belenenses and Benfica, winning three league titles with the Portuguese giants, but his career was cut short by a knee injury and he retired at 32.
Amorim caught the attention with success in the Portuguese League Cup in his second job, in charge of Braga, and was poached by Sporting CP in 2020. He delivered the title to end the club’s 19-year wait, and repeated the feat last season. Sporting are currently top of the league once more and well placed to defend their crown. They lie eighth in the Champions League table with two wins and a draw.
Amorim would be something of a coup but he is an unknown quantity, having spent almost his entire playing and coaching career in Portugal to date. He is also reluctant to leave Sporting mid-season, as revealed by The Indepe
