Ruben Amorim had hoped to leave Lisbon on a high note, celebrating a third Primeira Liga title. But football rarely follows a perfect script.
Instead, what appears to be his final match before taking on Manchester United saw him bidding farewell at a half-empty Estadio Jose Alvalade in a League Cup quarter-final against Nacional.
Sporting CP secured a 3-1 victory, thanks to second-half goals from captain Morten Hjulmand and a brace by Viktor Gyokeres. Luis Esteves managed to pull one back for Nacional, based in Madeira.
As the match concluded, Amorim made his way down the tunnel without acknowledging the home crowd, leaving a sense of finality in the air.
Addressing rumors of his Manchester United move, Amorim remained tight-lipped: “There’s nothing to announce. Right now, I have no comments—anything I say will only create more speculation. The club has made a statement, and the decision will be mine as the statement confirmed. But speculating now won’t help.”
Tuesday’s Champions League match against Manchester City will see the stadium full of life, though by then, Amorim may have already taken his place at Old Trafford.
Despite interest from clubs like Liverpool, Aston Villa, and even Manchester City as a post-Pep Guardiola option, Amorim, 39, found the United offer too compelling to refuse. However, his exit is dividing Sporting’s fan base, with many supporters believing he should have finished the season.
Nevertheless, Amorim, along with his three-man coaching team likely joining him, leaves Sporting in a far better position than when he arrived in 2020.
Before kickoff, there was polite applause as his name was announced with the lineups. And though his departure is bittersweet for fans, his legacy is secure.
Under his leadership, Sporting has reestablished itself as a dominant force in Portuguese football.
This season alone, they have won their first nine league games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two—a testament to Amorim’s impact on the club.
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