IN-BOUND Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim was given a heroes send-off in his last game in charge of Sporting Lisbon.
The 39-year-old starts life in Old Trafford next week after replacing Erik ten Hag.
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But before he could say goodbye, he had to lead Sporting out one more time against United’s rivals City at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
The home crowed unveiled a banner to commemorate Amorim and the two league titles he won in Lisbon before kick off.
And despite Phil Foden’s opener on four minutes, Sporting hit back to send Amorim off with a 4-1 victory.
Star striker Viktor Gyokeres got a hat-trick amid rumours it may not be the last time he lines up under Amorim.
And Amorim – who spent four years in Lisbon – was given a guard of honour and some celebratory bumps after the match.
But the farewell was so jubilant that he nearly came crashing down after being tossed in the air.
Gyokeres, 26, has become instantly linked with a move to United and the forward paid respect to his departing manager following victory over City.
He said: “We will miss him a lot. We’ve done amazing things together. We will miss him and the other guys in the staff who will leave.
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“We have to look forward and attack the next challenge ahead of us.”
Amorim also ended City’s 26-game unbeaten run in the Champions League as a parting gift to Sporting.
It made for the perfect send-off for Amorim, who will officially start work at United next week.
Amorim, who also took a long lap of honour after the game, said: “Those who were here and have seen Sporting over the last four years deserved a night like this. It was very special.
“But we shouldn’t stop here, it shouldn’t be a one-off.
“It was special in the circumstances but we have to think about the next match against Braga.
“Perhaps it was written in the stars we should end this way. I will keep these memories forever but I cannot enjoy them fully yet.”
Ahead of kick-off the Sporting fans unfurled an enormous banner to give him a memorable send-off.
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It featured an illustration of Amorim with his arms folded, as well as the five trophies he won as Sporting boss.
The banner read “Obrigado” – Portuguese for “thank you”.
Amorim joined Sporting as boss in 2020 following a season at Braga.
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As their boss he won two league titles, two domestic cups and one Super Cup.
He will take charge of his final game in charge away to his former side Braga on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man Utd
WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.
Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.
