Sporting Lisbon fans make their feelings towards Ruben Amorim very clear at first game since his move to Man United was confirmed

Ruben Amorim was a busy man on Friday.

Shortly before noon, Manchester United issued a club statement confirming that the 39-year-old’s move to Old Trafford was a done deal.

The statement announced that Amorim would start work as United’s new manager on November 11 once he had ‘fulfilled his obligations to his current club’.

One of those obligations was Sporting’s Portuguese Liga home game against Estrela Amadora on Friday night.

Ahead of kick-off in that game, almost 50,000 Sporting supporters inside the Jose Alvalade Stadium made their feelings towards their current – but soon to be former – manager very clear.

Amorim was widely greeted with emphatic applause as he took his place in the home dugout for the penultimate time – his last home game will be on Tuesday night against Man City in the Champions League.

Videos taken by members of the crowd captured the outpouring of support and gratitude shown to Amorim, who had also been cheered when he arrived at the stadium.

Sporting fans also belted out a passionate rendition of their club anthem, ‘O Mundo Sabe Que’, which they sing to the tune of Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’. 

Amorim has been in charge of Sporting since March 2020.

He has delivered five trophies, including two league titles, while his side currently top the Primeira Liga table this season after taking 27 points from their first nine games prior to Friday.

Amorim’s move to United was confirmed by the Premier League club four days after his predecessor had been sacked.

Erik ten Hag’s two-and-a-half-year reign at Old Trafford ended on Monday, less than 24 hours after his side had lost 2-1 at West Ham.

That result left the Red Devils 14th in the Premier League table.

United – who finished eighth in the league last season – installed Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim manager on Monday and he then delivered a 5-2 win over Leicester in the Carabao Cup two days later.

Van Nistelrooy will also oversee United’s next three games – against Chelsea, PAOK Salonika and Leicester again – before standing aside when Amorim arrives at the start of November’s international break.

Amorim’s first match as United boss will be an away trip to Ipswich Town in the Premier League on November 24.

His first home game will come in the Europa League four days later when FK Bodo/Glimt visit Old Trafford.

More to follow.