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Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes new head coach Ruben Amorim has the pedigree and charisma to succeed at Old Trafford.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former United defender explained what separates Amorim from his predecessor Erik ten Hag.

"If Pep Guardiola had gone, I think that Amorim would have been someone that City were looking at," said ex-England centre-back Ferdinand.

"There are similarities to what Erik ten Hag was doing at Ajax but what I would say is that Amorim took a club that was on a barren spell.

"They couldn't compete with Porto or Benfica, hadn't got near to winning the league. Disenchanted fanbase. Turmoil behind the scenes. He went in there and immediately turned their fortunes around. He changed their style of football, style of play, and expectations.

"I think the biggest difference between the two (Amorim and Ten Hag), from what I am hearing from people who have played for but also been around, is the character and charisma compared to Erik ten Hag will be the big difference.

"United need someone with the character and charisma to go 'you know what, I don't care what has happened here, I see a player in you, I see a player in you.' You need someone who is going to be like that.

"This is a man who built Manuel Ugarte, who has come to Manchester United. He built a £60m player. He changed the landscape for a football club. That is not easy to do. I don't care what league you are in.

"I spoke to [former United team-mate] Nani the other day and he said 'Rio, the players love him, the players play for him, love him and they respect him'.

"He said Amorim is very straight and direct. Maybe there were inconsistencies in the way Ten Hag disciplined. You have to have clear lines when you approach these topics and players."

Have your say on Amorim's appointment, external

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United We Stand editor and writer for The Athletic, Andy Mitten, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm sure he will get a honeymoon period like the last six or seven United managers in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

"He is very highly rated, like the last managers have been too. He has a very difficult job, a very complex dressing room at Manchester United. The team has underwhelmed.

"[The dressing room is] complex because their ability is not to the same standard as their rivals. The remuneration might be, their social media followings might be, but how many of those Manchester united players might get into a top rival team.

"Confidence is low. They have been starting games playing well but unable to follow through with the manager's instructions. There are some big egos in there from all around the world.

"It is difficult for a manager to go in and wrestle with a team that is underperforming. It is much easier to go into a dressing room that is confident and winning.

"I wish the new manager well. I hope he can do the same job as at Sporting when he found them in a perilous state. But it is about more than just the football at Manchester United.

"The pressures are huge. You are going to get abuse from all around the world every single time you lose a match, the players will as well. Expectations are high because it is such a huge football club, it is Manchester United and there is a lot of pressure that comes with that."

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BBC Sport chief football news reporter Simon Stone, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live following Manchester United's appointment of Ruben Amorim as their new head coach: "Chief executive Omar Berrada went to Lisbon on Monday to try to negotiate. Amorim has a 30-day release clause in his contract and United were hoping to negotiate Sporting down from that.

"They have managed to do that in some sense but they would have wanted him quicker.

"Sporting wanted him to stay in charge for the Champions League game against Manchester City next Tuesday and a key league game. Sporting want to make a bit of a statement that they are not being pushed around. Manchester United have agreed to this.

"Ruud van Nistelrooy will be in charge for Chelsea on Sunday, the Europa League game against PAOK on Thursday and then Leicester at Old Trafford next Sunday.

"After that, we don't know what will happen to Van Nistelrooy but we do know that Amorim will join as manager."

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Alex Keble
Football tactics writer

As Manchester United supporters prepare to welcome a highly-rated and talented coach from outside of Europe's 'big five' leagues who has analysts swooning, they may be worried that it all sounds a bit familiar.

But in Ruben Amorim, they can be certain that in one crucial aspect he won't be anything like Erik ten Hag.

Amorim, who is set to leave Portuguese champions Sporting to move to Old Trafford, is nothing if not a diligent - and decisive - tactical thinker.

From a ruthless press to proactive possession football, from a daring high line to a complexly shape-shifting 3-4-3 formation, the hallmarks of Amorim's football will be etched into muscle memory in detailed training sessions.

And there will be valid concerns. Most prominent will be how a Manchester United squad built in Ten Hag's image will cope with the change to a back three and a tactical system entirely at odds with what came before. It won't suit everyone.

The wing-backs play a crucial attacking role in Amorim teams, stretching the play to allow the wingers to drift infield and get tight to the striker.

Amorim's wingers, who sit just behind the striker to form a box shape with the two central midfielders, tend to be direct runners capable of pressing hard and weaving their way through the lines in the transition.

Amorim is more than willing to alter his tactical set-up to suit the strengths and limitations of his players, suggesting that even those players who don't look like an obvious fit could find a manager willing to bend for now... well apart from three at the back.

Read more on Amorim's tactics

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Ruben Amorim will take charge of Manchester United on 11 November but he will have to wait a little while until his first match as head coach.

There will be almost two weeks between his first day in the role and his first game, which will be away at Ipswich on Sunday, 24 November (16:30 GMT).

The trip to Portman Road will see Amorim take on a side led by former Manchester United coach Kieran McKenna, who had been strongly linked with the managerial position at Old Trafford in the summer.

Follow the latest on Amorim's appointment and the rest of Friday's football news

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Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Ruben Amorim as head coach.

The 39-year-old has signed a deal, subject to visa requirements, until June 2027 with a club option for an additional year.

In a statement,, external the Premier League club said he will join on Monday, 11 November once he has fulfilled his obligations with Sporting.

"Ruben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football.

"Highly decorated as both a player and coach, his titles include winning the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting, the first of which was the club's first title in 19 years.

"Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge of the team until Ruben joins."

The Portuguese's appointment comes following the departure of Erik ten Hag on Monday.

Now that the deal is finally over the line, how do you feel, United fans? Happy with the choice? What are the first decisions he will have to make?

Let us know, external

Ben Knapman
Fleetwood Town YouTuber

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Rhys Bennett came into the club on loan as a promising young defender that we could help develop. It took a few games for him to really get going as this is his first proper loan for getting minutes within a team, but after this period he has looked strong and composed at the back.

He can take a touch and can also play out from the back. The fans are really impressed with him so far but feel there is still lots more to come. Hopefully we can see this after he overcomes his short injury.

He has been caught out a few times defensively, however he’s a young player that will make mistakes and one who will also do a lot right, and I can’t wait to see him develop in this young but exciting team.

He’s a player that looks eager to move forward with the ball but can be direct as well. He’s a really tall and physical type of centre-back and quite old school, but can also play too. It’s still early days but it looks to have been a smart signing!

Find more from Ben on Cods Vlogs, external

Mariana Fernandes
Portuguese journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

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Ruben Amorim has a really strong idea of what his football teams look like.

He knows what he wants, what kind of players he wants to bring in, what players he wants alongside him. Sporting didn't have an idea when he came - a project - and he brought one. Right now, the B team plays the same way as the A team.

High-pressure attacking football is one of the most obvious characteristics of Amorim's playing style.

A back three with two very wide players on the wings, a strong midfield, a front three with an offensive reference point, and two players in support with a high-press attack.

They are a very offensive team that only plays to score goals.

They are more concerned with scoring goals than conceding one, but Amorim is also very preoccupied with his back three and the strength of his defence. I think he is always more keen on winning 4-0 and 5-0 than 2-1.

He doesn't have expectations he knows he cannot achieve. If he is going to make this jump to the Premier League - to a club with the support, influence and importance of Manchester United - I think he knows he is ready to make this leap.

He has a close relationship with his players, a kind of dad-like manager.

There are a few players that have a high value in the European market. I think it will be more a case of him getting to Manchester United and seeing what kind of flaws they have.

Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres could be a target. Maybe not in January, but in the summer transfer window.

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The decision to allow Manchester City's stoppage-time winner against Wolves on 20 October has been backed by an independent panel.

John Stones' header was eventually awarded following a pitchside review by referee Chris Kavanagh after it had initially been disallowed for offside, with Bernardo Silva standing close to Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.

The Key Match Incident panel, which reviews the big decisions from every Premier League game, unanimously agreed with the VAR intervention, saying Silva was "not clearly in the line of the goalkeeper's vision or impacting his ability to make a save".

During the game, the Premier League Match Centre posted on X:, external "Stones' goal was disallowed on-field due to Bernardo Silva being in an offside position and in the goalkeeper's line of vision. The VAR deemed Bernardo Silva wasn't in the line of vision and had no impact on the goalkeeper and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned his original decision and a goal was awarded."

That weekend's fixtures - the eighth round of Premier League matches - saw multiple VAR reviews with penalties overturned and yellow cards upgraded to reds.

In October, referees' chief Howard Webb said there had been an 80% reduction in the number of video assistant referee (VAR) errors this season compared to 2023-24.

Barry Worthington
Wigan Athletic podcaster

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On-loan striker Joe Hugill hasn’t exactly hit the ground running at Wigan Athletic so far this season, with just two goals in eight appearances in League One as the Latics not only struggle to create chances but also struggle to convert the ones we do create.

Hugill is playing the lone striker role which is physically demanding, especially against the burly centre-backs in League One. He is at times looking a frustrated figure, with a slim build and having only turned 21 recently. Hugill needs to develop his hold-up play as he is constantly looking to play off the shoulder of defenders and use his pace rather than strength to win his duels.

His two league goals for the Latics came in a 4-0 away win at Bristol Rovers and both were identical, corners swung into the box, the ball bobbling around the six yard area and Joe using his poacher’s instinct to latch on and lash the ball home from close range.

In fairness to Hugill, he has suffered with an ankle injury and been in and out of the side. Hopefully he will get a run in the starting line up over the coming weeks and find his feet with us.

Find more from Barry on the Progress with Unity Podcast, external

Bayern Munich attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala, 21, says he is happy at the Bundesliga club, amid links to Manchester City. (Goal), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Sporting have reached agreement to allow manager Ruben Amorim to leave the club and join Manchester United during the November international break. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Manchester United will pay compensation to enable a number of Amorim's backroom staff to join him at Old Trafford. (ESPN), external

Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres is unhappy with Amorim's decision to leave Sporting, after rejecting offers to leave the club himself this summer. (Ojogo - in Portuguese), external

But Gyokeres is likely to join Amorim at Manchester United, if a deal can be agreed. (Football365), external

Meanwhile, Manchester United could rival Liverpool for Wolves' 23-year-old Algeria wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri. (GiveMeSport), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column