Ruben Amorim has revealed the reasons behind his decision for joining Manchester United after conducting his first interview since arriving at the club.
The 39-year-old touched down in Manchester on Monday and met with members of the club’s INEOS-backed boardroom and given a tour of United’s Carrington training complex.
Amorim is tasked with resurrecting United’s season and sorting through the chaos left by Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman was sacked last month and will oversee his first game in charge against Ipswich on November 24.
The Portuguese has become one of Europe’s most sought after managers having guided Sporting Lisbon to two top-flight Portuguese titles – ending the club’s near 20-year wait – and is the only head coach in Europe’s top leagues to oversee a 100 per cent winning start to the season.
Now after taking time to meet players of his first-team squad not on international duty, Amorim has revealed why he decided to join United despite previously revealing other teams had tried to court him.
Speaking to MUTV, Amorim said: ‘First of all, I think I felt a connection with the club. And when I say with the club, everybody knows Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim has revealed the reasons behind his decision for joining Manchester United
The 39-year-old has conducted his first interview since agreeing to become United boss
Manchester United are currently 13th in the Premeir League standings after a tough start to the new season
‘But I feel the connection with the people in the club and that is very important for me because I want to work with people that I like and I feel a connection.
‘The second point is the history of this club. And also the moment I think all the people are hungry for success and I feel that this is the place that I want to be also because of that, because you can be part of something special, not just one more. And that is something that I really like,’ he added.
Amorim’s arrival has been hailed by United supporters, but now must deliver the similar results and positive attacking play that he achieved success with in Lisbon and joins an environment in massively contrasting circumstances.
He is United’s seventh permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and will attempt to build on the positive foundations left by interim boss Ruud Van Nistelrooy who Amorim decided against integrating into his backroom team.
However, United currently sit 13th in the Premier League standings following a dismal start to the new season and Amorim’s immediate job at hand is pushing his squad up the table.
The former player will have to wait until Thursday November 28 to get his first real taste of Old Trafford when United host Bodo Glimt in the Europa League before entertaining Everton in the Premier League just days later.
His unfortunate predecessor Ten Hag was well-backed by passionate United supporters inside the Stretford End even after suffering humiliating defeats, and Amorim outlined how impressed he has been with the club’s fanbase.
‘And of course, because of the fans, because in Portugal you listen a lot, a lot of stuff from the media,’ he continued.
Amorim has already began meeting with players of his first-team squad not on international duty
Amorim hailed United CEO Omar Berrada (left), technical director Jason Wilcox (second from left), and sporting director Dan Ashworth (second from right) for bringing him to the club
Amorim will replace Erik ten Hag (left) after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s (right) INEOS-backed team sacked the Dutchman
‘But when you see the games here, when you see the games, the interaction with the managers, with the players, even in difficult moments, I think it is a special club. So, it’s a lot of reasons. But the first reason is because it is a club with a great history,’ said Amorim.
Meanwhile, he is the first manager to be appointed by United’s co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe who has seen his INEOS team take control of the club’s sporting development, despite the controversial Glazer family still being the majority shareholder.
Ratcliffe has made a swathe of top-level executive changes since his £1.3billion investment in the 13-time Premier League champions was confirmed in February and previously decided to keep Ten Hag on after the Dutchman won the FA Cup last season.
Amorim was one of the names at the top of his shortlist to replace Ten Hag and the new head coach admitted he is already beginning to form a ‘connection’ with the club’s decision-makers.
‘Of course I have to say the names. Even Sir Jim [Ratcliffe] and Sir Dave [Brailsford], but especially Omar [Berrada], Dan [Ashworth] and Jason [Wilcox],’ said Amorim.
‘I felt a connection and I felt we are in the same moment. We want to do something special in the special club. So I think that was a key point,’ he added.
