- The new Manchester United manager has revealed why he joined the club
- Ruben Amorim has given his first interview since replacing Erik ten Hag
- FOOTBALL AZ: Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or watch them on YouTube. New episodes every Wednesday
Ruben Amorim has revealed the reasons behind his decision to join Manchester United after giving his first interview since joining the club.
The 39-year-old landed in Manchester on Monday and met members of the club’s INEOS-backed boardroom and was given a tour of United’s Carrington training complex.
Amorim is tasked with reviving United’s season and breaking through the chaos left behind Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman was fired last month and will oversee his first match in charge against Ipswich on November 24.
The Portuguese has become one of Europe’s most sought-after managers after guiding Sporting Lisbon to two Portuguese top-flight titles – ending the club’s nearly two-decade wait – and is the only head coach in Europe’s top leagues to oversee a 100 percent winning start to the season.
After taking time to meet his first-team players who were not on international duty, Amorim has revealed why he decided to join United, despite previously revealing that other teams had tried to woo him.
Speaking to MUTV, Amorim said: “First of all, I think I felt a bond with the club. And when I say with the club: everyone knows Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim has revealed the reasons behind his decision to join Manchester United
‘But I feel the connection with the people in the club and that is very important to me, because I want to work with people I like and I feel a connection.
‘The second point is the history of this club. And also at the moment when I think that all people are hungry for success and I feel that this is the place where I want to be also because of that, because you can be part of something special, and not just one more. And that is something I really like.
‘And of course because of the fans, because in Portugal you listen to many, many things from the media. But if you see the matches here, if you see the matches, the interaction with the managers, with the players, even in difficult moments, then I think it is a special club. So there are many reasons. But the first reason is because it is a club with a great history.
Of course I have to mention the names. Even Sir Jim and Sir Dave, but especially Omar, Dan and Jason. I felt a connection and I felt that we were in the same moment. We want to do something special in the special club. So I think that was an important point,” he added.
More to follow.