Young Portuguese manager reportedly agrees to take over at Manchester United hours after Erik Ten Hag axed

Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon's boss Ruben Amorim has reportedly agreed to take over as Manchester United manager after Erik ten Hag was let go by the English Premier League club.

Ten Hag's two-and-a-half-year reign came to an end less than 24 hours after the club lost 2-1 to West Ham United at the weekend.

He was informed of his dismissal following a meeting held by the club's board.

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The Red Devils confirmed the news on Monday evening (AEDT).

The club wasted no time in lining up its next manager with The Athletic reporting that United were targeting 39-year-old Amorim.

The publication's David Ornstein reported: "Manchester United working on deal to appoint Ruben Amorim as head coach. #MUFC ready to pay €10m release clause and in talks with #SportingCP to finalise. 39yo Portuguese open to accepting move.'"

The Manchester Evening News also reported that Amorim had agreed to take over the Red Devils, with United to work on a compensation deal with the Portuguese club.

Amorim has won two Portuguese titles and two League Cups with Sporting since joining the club in March 2020.

He was one of several names sounded out as Ten Hag's future was considered.

Among those linked with taking over at United were former England coach Gareth Southgate, former Chelsea manager Graham Potter and former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez. Brentford manager Thomas Frank was asked about his interest in the vacancy and replied: "I've said many, many times, I'm very happy here. I think it's one of the best clubs in the world. What happens in the future, who knows? But I'm very, very happy here."

Ten Hag joined from Dutch giant Ajax in 2022 and was tasked with the responsibility of bringing the good times back to a club that has been in decline since former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Despite winning the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024, United was showing no sign of improving on its worst league campaign in 34 years, having finished in eighth place last season.

Already 12 points behind first-place Manchester City in the Premier League, United — which never had a distinguishable style of play under Ten Hag and often conceded late goals — appears to have little hope of challenging for the title and is in danger of missing out on qualification for the lucrative Champions League once again.

Ten Hag only held onto his job following an unexpected victory over fierce rival Man City in the FA Cup final in May and an extensive end-of-year review by United. He was then handed a one-year extension to his contract to 2026.

However, the club's new leadership — fronted by new minority owner Jim Ratcliffe — was unimpressed with the pace of change and the recent results under Ten Hag, who has overseen the spending of over $1 billion on new players since his arrival. In the Premier League, only Chelsea has spent more in that time.

Ratcliffe, the British billionaire, has taken over control of United's football operations, with a new CEO, sporting director and technical director all installed in recent months. They now have to appoint a sixth permanent manager since Ferguson's departure, following David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ten Hag.

"I don't think anybody will be truly shocked after what happened yesterday," former United defender Gary Neville said of the latest loss to West Ham.

"The fact they are in 14th is just unacceptable. You can't be 14th after nine games with the level of spending that has occurred, without being under significant pressure."

Bruno Fernandes, United's current captain, posted on Instagram his best wishes to Ten Hag.

"Thanks for everything boss!" Fernandes wrote, alongside pictures of him and Ten Hag holding the FA Cup trophy. "I appreciate the trust and the moments we share together, I wish you all the best in the future.

Fernandes added: "Even knowing the last period hasn't been great from all of us I hope you fans can keep with you the good things the manager has done for our club!"

United winger Alejandro Garnacho also took to Instagram, saying: "It hasn't gone as well as we wanted, but I will remember the good times we had together and I wish you all the best in the future. Thank you very much Erik."

United's next game is at home to Leicester in the English League Cup on Thursday AEDT.

- with Sacha Mirzabegian and AP