Man Utd news LIVE: Ruben Amorim officially announced as new manager with club statement

Former Manchester United captain and current football pundit Rio Ferdinand gave his thoughts on the appointment of Ruben Amorim.

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand presents, he said: “If Pep Guardiola had gone, I think that [Ruben] Amorim would have been someone that Manchester City were looking at. There are similarities to what Erik ten Hag was doing at Ajax but what I would say is that Amorim took a club that was on a barren spell.

“[Sporting] couldn’t compete with Porto or Benfica, hadn’t got near to winning the league – disenchanted fanbase, turmoil behind the scenes. He went in there and immediately turned their fortunes around. He changed their style of football, style of play, and expectations.

“I think the biggest difference between the two (Amorim and Ten Hag), from what I am hearing from people who have played for them but also been around, is the character and charisma compared to Erik ten Hag will be the big difference. United need someone with the character and charisma to go ‘you know what, I don’t care what has happened here, I see a player in you’. You need someone who is going to be like that.

“This is a man who built Manuel Ugarte, who has come to Manchester United. He built a £60m player. He changed the landscape for a football club. That is not easy to do. I don’t care what league you are in.

“I spoke to Nani the other day and he said ‘Rio, the players play for him, love him and they respect him’. He said Amorim is very straight and direct. Maybe there were inconsistencies in the way Ten Hag disciplined. You have to have clear lines when you approach these topics and players.”

“The first goal was an unbelievable, top goal – fantastic finish,” Van Nistelrooy told MUTV.

“I’m delighted for him that the first goal went in. I was delighted for Case, the way he’s been training and helping the team and the club, he’s such an example. You also see the crowd’s reaction and they also know what he’s about.

“Of course, going through difficult moments, the Liverpool game, he got a lot of criticism. It was so hard, he was almost the one to blame for that game and it’s not fair, he didn’t deserve that, it was not true. “If you see him in training and the way he prepares for games, with the history and all he has achieved with five Champions Leagues, he’s an example for us. That was part of my celebration, I’m happy for him.”

Manchester United have hired a winner in Ruben Amorim who already has five trophies to his name as a manager. Here’s a look as what he’s won so far:

Taca de Liga – Braga (2019-20)

Primeira Liga – Sporting (2020-21, 2023-24)

Taca de Liga – Sporting (2020-21, 2021-22)

Supertaca Candido de Oliveira – Sporting (2021)

Will he add some English titles to his list this season? United are already through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals so he has a good chance.

Sir Alex Ferguson was manager at Manchester United for 27 years, but the club have now appointed a seventh full-time boss since the Scot retired in 2013. Here is a look at the record of those to have followed Ferguson, ahead of Amorim taking over:

Erik ten Hag (July 2022-October 2024)

Record – P128 | W70 | D23 | L35 | Trophies: 2

Dutchman Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford with a formidable reputation having guided Ajax to three Eredivisie titles. He ended the club’s six-year wait for a major trophy when they lifted the Carabao Cup in February last year before leading them to a top-three finish and Champions League qualification.

However, a miserable second season blighted by injuries and faltering form saw United exit Europe after the group stage and finish eighth in the Premier League, their worst ever return.

They did beat rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final to temper that but made a disappointing start to this term, where they sat in 14th place following defeat by West Ham when Ten Hag departed.

Sir Alex Ferguson was manager at Manchester United for 27 years, but the club have now appointed a seventh full-time boss since the Scot retired in 2013. Here is a look at the record of those to have followed Ferguson, ahead of Amorim taking over:

Record – P29 | W11| D10 | L8 | Trophies: 0

The German was drafted in as interim boss with a view to transitioning to a two-year consultancy role, but never took up the extended job after accepting the post of manager of the Austria national team.

Rangnick guided the club to a sixth-placed finish with their lowest Premier League points tally of 58 while all the time talking up the overhaul required to revitalise the club.

Sir Alex Ferguson was manager at Manchester United for 27 years, but the club have now appointed a seventh full-time boss since the Scot retired in 2013. Here is a look at the record of those to have followed Ferguson, ahead of Amorim taking over:

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (December 2018-November 2021)

Record – P168 | W91 | D37 | L40 | Trophies: 0

The former United striker transformed the mood at Old Trafford after initially taking charge on a caretaker basis, winning 14 from 19 games to earn the job permanently.

Solskjaer led United to third in 2019-20 and runners-up a year later, when they also lost the Europa League final on penalties. But despite the progress made, the 1999 treble hero paid for a series of poor performances when he lost his job in November 2021.

Sir Alex Ferguson was manager at Manchester United for 27 years, but the club have now appointed a seventh full-time boss since the Scot retired in 2013. Here is a look at the record of those to have followed Ferguson, ahead of Amorim taking over:

Jose Mourinho (May 2016-December 2018)

Record – P144 | W84 | D32 | L28 | Trophies: 2

The much-decorated Portuguese initially breathed new life into the club, winning a cup double in 2017 and securing a runners-up finish in the Premier League in 2018.

However, his defensive brand of football did not delight fans and his abrasive character, with constant rumours about problems with Paul Pogba, affected the dressing room and results suffered before his sacking in December 2018.

Mourinho was sacked after two and a half years in charge at Roma in January and, after being appointed as Fenerbahce boss in June, oversaw the Turkish club’s 1-1 Europa League draw with United in Istanbul last month.

Sir Alex Ferguson was manager at Manchester United for 27 years, but the club have now appointed a seventh full-time boss since the Scot retired in 2013. Here is a look at the record of those to have followed Ferguson, ahead of Amorim taking over:

Record – P103 | W54 | D25 | L24 | Trophies: 1

The tough-talking Dutchman delivered the FA Cup in his second season, but United’s fifth-placed finish in the Premier League, coupled with criticism of his side’s ponderous style and lack of goals, led to his departure.

Van Gaal returned to management in a third stint as Netherlands head coach in 2021, but quit after their exit from the 2022 World Cup and last year rejoined former club Ajax as an advisor.

Sir Alex Ferguson was manager at Manchester United for 27 years, but the club have now appointed a seventh full-time boss since the Scot retired in 2013. Here is a look at the record of those to have followed Ferguson, ahead of Amorim taking over:

Record – P51 | W27 | D9 | L15| Trophies: 0

Moyes was seen as the ideal Ferguson successor and handed a six-year contract but, after 11 years at Everton, he lasted just 10 months at Old Trafford, paying the price for a dismal campaign in which United failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1995.

After years of further struggle at various clubs, Moyes rekindled his career at West Ham, leading the club to Europa Conference League glory in 2023 before stepping down 12 months later.

United, who will have a club option to extend Amorim’s contract by a further year until 2028, believe they have appointed the most exciting young manager in Europe.