Manchester United has disclosed that the total cost for replacing Erik ten Hag with Ruben Amorim amounted to £21.4 million. This figure includes the compensation paid for sacking Ten Hag and his coaching staff, as well as the expenses incurred in hiring Amorim and his team from Sporting CP.
Erik ten Hag was dismissed from his role as Manchester United’s manager on 28 October 2024, following a series of disappointing results and growing unrest surrounding his methods. The Dutchman’s tenure had seen high expectations, but a lack of consistent success on the pitch led to increased pressure from both fans and the club’s hierarchy. In addition to Ten Hag’s sacking, the club also parted ways with his coaching staff: René Hake, Jelle ten Rouwelaar, Pieter Morel, and former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. The total compensation for these departures reached £10.4 million, a significant expense for the club but necessary to bring about a managerial change.
Following Ten Hag’s dismissal, United quickly turned their attention to securing a new manager to take the reins at Old Trafford. Ruben Amorim, the highly regarded 39-year-old manager of Sporting CP, was chosen to lead the team forward. Amorim had built a strong reputation in Portugal for his tactical acumen and his ability to develop young players, with Sporting winning the Primeira Liga under his stewardship in 2021. The decision to bring Amorim to Manchester United was seen as a bold move, with the club aiming to bring in a manager capable of revitalizing the squad and returning them to the top of English football.
The cost of hiring Amorim and his coaching team from Sporting CP was £11 million. This figure included not only Amorim’s compensation but also the salaries for the five members of his coaching staff: Carlos Fernandes, Jorge Vital, Adélio Cândido, Emanuel Ferro, and Paulo Barreira. Amorim’s staff had been instrumental in his success at Sporting, and their arrival at United was seen as crucial in maintaining continuity and implementing his philosophy.
Amorim’s first game in charge of Manchester United came on 3 November 2024, away to Ipswich Town. Despite a positive start, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that left United fans eager to see more from the new manager. While Amorim was disappointed with the draw, he remained optimistic about the future, emphasizing the importance of winning but also acknowledging the special nature of his first match in charge.
Following the Ipswich match, Amorim’s attention turned to the Europa League, where United was set to face Bodø/Glimt at Old Trafford. This match marked his first home game as manager, and the stakes were high as the club looked to secure a positive result in Europe. In the lead-up to the match, Amorim expressed his excitement at managing in front of the Old Trafford crowd but stressed that the primary focus was on securing a victory to build momentum for the team. “It will be special, but it will be more special if we win. So that’s the goal, but it’s a special moment in my life, in our staff’s life, and I hope it will be the beginning of something very beautiful,” he said.
The financial figures surrounding Ten Hag’s dismissal and Amorim’s hiring underline the substantial costs involved in managerial changes at the highest level of football. While the £21.4 million spent on this transition is significant, it reflects the club’s determination to return to success under a manager they believe can implement a winning formula. For Amorim, the task ahead is clear: to restore Manchester United to its former glory and guide the team back to the pinnacle of European and domestic football.
As United moves forward under Amorim’s leadership, the pressure is on the 39-year-old to deliver results quickly. The club’s board and fans will be looking for signs of progress, with expectations high for a swift return to the Champions League and a challenge for major trophies. Only time will tell if Amorim is the man to lead Manchester United into a new era, but his journey at the club has only just begun.
