As Sporting CP’s players hoisted Ruben Amorim into the air following a stunning 4-1 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League, Manchester United fans had double reason to celebrate. Not only did their crosstown rivals suffer a rare defeat, but the mastermind behind Sporting's win, Amorim, will soon take the reins at Old Trafford, replacing Erik ten Hag.
 
In his final home game with Sporting, Amorim’s side showed resilience and tactical brilliance, overcoming an early deficit to secure a memorable win that lifted them to second in their Champions League group. Reflecting on the occasion, Amorim said, “It was written on the wall,” referring to the evening’s script, which included City missing a penalty. Sporting fans will bid him farewell once more when they face Braga this weekend, aiming to make it 11 wins in 11 Portuguese league games.
 
United’s new manager knows the road ahead will be challenging; his tenure starts with the team languishing in 13th in the Premier League after 10 games. Amorim’s debut match will be against Ipswich Town after the international break, and in December, he’ll face Pep Guardiola and City once more. While he’s been playfully dubbed “the next Ferguson,” Amorim brushes off comparisons, planning to avoid media coverage in England. “I’m certainly not going to read anything for six months,” he quipped, a strategy that served him well in Lisbon.
 
As he leaves Sporting, Amorim believes he’s leaving behind a solid foundation, confident that his successor will inherit a well-structured club with a supportive fan base.