Sporting Lisbon announce new manager who will succeed Ruben Amorim

The replacement to Ruben Amorim has finally been named by Sporting Lisbon. Hours after the new Manchester United manager's last game in charge, the Portuguese powerhouses appointed Joao Pereira, 40, to be their new manager. 

Amorim, 39, formally departed Sporting today, although his first journey to Manchester is now being delayed due to a purported problem with his work immigration clearance. The 39-year-old led Sporting to a 4-2 dramatic win at Braga on Sunday, extending their winning streak to 11 league matches this season.

However, Sporting has officially passed on from Amorim and now leads FC Porto by 11 points. After retiring from playing in 2021, Pereira, the former right-back who appeared in 154 games for Sporting, has been active in coaching there. His most recent position was manager of the club's B team. 

After serving as Sporting's assistant coach for a season, Pereira was named head coach of the under-23 squad in 2022–2023. The former defender played club football for Valencia and Trabzonspor and earned 40 caps for Portugal.

Ruben Amorim’s impressive managerial legacy at Sporting Lisbon

However, Amorim departs Sporting having won two Primeira Liga titles, so he has huge shoes to fill. In addition to being undefeated in the league this season, Sporting is now ranked second in the Champions League standings, trailing only leaders Liverpool. This season, Amorim has also managed to avoid losing in Europe, most recently defeating Pep Guardiola's Manchester City 4-1. 

The team wants to win the Portuguese league twice in a row for the very first time after 1954. Amorim was officially hired by Manchester United on November 1. However, after the international break, Sporting asked for extra time so that Amorim could finish his last three games and join. After a miserable 14 months around Old Trafford, Erik ten Hag was under increasing pressure and was replaced by him.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, the interim manager, is scheduled to have a confrontation with Amorim to determine whether he will continue to serve as an assistant. On November 24, Amorim will go to Ipswich during his debut game as manager.