His reign at Manchester United is yet to spark, but Sporting Lisbon players will never forget what Ruben Amorim did for them, as was evident in their reactions to his exit
HONG KONG, CHINA - MAY 30: Manchester United Head Coach / Manager Ruben Amorim talks to media during the post match press conference after the match bewteen Manchester United and Hong Kong at Hong Kong Stadium on May 30, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim's time at Manchester United has been difficult(Image: Manchester United, Manchester United via Getty Images)
Sporting Lisbon's squad shifted from joyous celebrations to tearful farewells when Ruben Amorim told them he was joining Manchester United.
Appointed in early November, Amorim officially started with the Red Devils 11 days later. At the time, Sporting had a healthy lead at the top of the Primeira Liga and looked poised to finish in the top eight of the Champions League table.
Amorim, 40, parted ways with a team that deeply respected him both as a manager and a mentor, a sentiment evidenced by their reaction to news that he was leaving. Sporting's Geny Catamo recalled the emotional scenes in the dressing room when Amorim confirmed the news they feared most.
The Mozambique international told Bar Da Liga: "A week before, we were informed Manchester United was interested in our manager. Ruben Amorim only told us that everything was fine and not to worry, we just had to focus on our game in Braga.
"It was an epic match; losing 2-0 and turning it around to 4-2 in the second half. It was the best football we played all season.
"We were all celebrating in the locker room when he came in and announced he was indeed going to Manchester United. We were sad and cried. Most players cried. I believe I was one of those who cried the most that day."
United shelled out £11million to release Amorim from his contract at Sporting. Upon the announcement, he stayed with the Portuguese team to manage matches against Estrela, Manchester City in the Champions League and Braga, beating them 5-1, 4-1 and 4-2 respectively.
Sporting Lisbon's Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim is celebrated by his players at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 4 football match between Sporting Lisbon and Manchester City at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on November 5, 2024. Ruben Amorim was on November 1, 2024, named as the new manager of Manchester United. The 39-year-old Portuguese coach, who won two Primeira Liga titles with Sporting Lisbon, has signed a deal until 2027 and will join the club on November 11.
Ruben Amorim received an emotional send off when he left Sporting Lisbon to join Manchester United
While the Sporting players were sad to see him depart, Amorim is yet to forge a similar bond with his United squad. In fact, the atmosphere at Old Trafford has been starkly different, as the Red Devils' performances are yet to improve under his leadership thus far.
After succeeding Erik ten Hag, Amorim could only steer United to a 15th place finish, their lowest ever in Premier League history. Their defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final also resulted in United failing to qualify for European football for the first time since the 2014/15 season.
While Sporting's players were distraught when Amorim left, the current group of United players do not share the same fondness for the Portuguese manager, at least not yet. One of Amorim's first moves at Old Trafford was to side-line Marcus Rashford.
Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, reacts during the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain
Ruben Amorim's first seven months at Manchester United were difficult
The Carrington graduate was excluded from the squad on multiple occasions before he was eventually loaned to Aston Villa in the January transfer window. In February, the Mail also reported that several United players had debated whether Amorim should alter his tactics, with the Portuguese manager steadfastly sticking to the same 3-4-3 formation he utilised at Sporting, for better or worse.
Furthermore, Alejandro Garnacho appears likely to experience a similar fate to Rashford. The Argentine winger publicly criticised Amorim after being omitted from the starting line-up for the Europa League final.
Not long after allegedly being told by the United manager to seek a new club, Garnacho was recently photographed wearing an Aston Villa shirt bearing Rashford's name. He has been linked with potential transfers to Chelsea and Napoli for many months.