Man Utd chief narrowly avoided awkward airport run-in with Erik ten Hag after brutal axe
Manchester United sacked Erik ten Hag on Monday before heading to Portugal to hire Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim - but the process very nearly didn't go to plan
Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada had a lucky escape at the airport after sacking Erik ten Hag on Monday.
United decided to dismiss the Dutchman in the wake of the 2-1 defeat at West Ham on Sunday afternoon. Ten Hag was handed a new contract in the summer after winning the FA Cup, but ran out of road after overseeing a dreadful start to the season which left United in 14th place with just 11 points from their opening nine Premier League matches.
The club felt they had no option but to pay off Ten Hag and his staff and put Ruud van Nistelrooy in interim control. They knew their next step, sending a delegation to Lisbon on the same day to sound out Sporting boss Ruben Amorim.
Berrada was one of the figures who led the talks in the Portuguese capital and thankfully he was spared a second meeting with Ten Hag on the way. The Daily Mail reports that the United chief executive headed to the same airport as Ten Hag on Monday afternoon, but didn’t run into the man he’d just sacked.
After being sacked, Ten Hag quickly boarded a private jet bound for the Netherlands, where he returned to his home town to digest the news. Berrada, meanwhile, was ultimately successful in his mission, agreeing a deal to hire Amorim on a contract until June 2027 as Ten Hag’s replacement.
Although they had to pay £9.25million to release Amorim from his Sporting contract and will have to shell out more for his coaching staff, United are happy with their work. They think they’ve landed the most exciting young coach in Europe and are convinced he will fit into the new INEOS-led structure as head coach.
Amorim revealed on Friday night that he had initially wanted to stay with Sporting until the end of the season before joining United. But the club gave him an ultimatum – now or never – and he decided to drag himself away from the club he had successfully guided to two league titles over the past four years.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Have Manchester United made the right decision? Comment below.
“United came along, paid the clause, above the clause, and the chairman defended his interests,” Amorim said. “I never discussed anything with the chairman. The only request I made was that it would be at the end of the season and they told me that wasn't possible, that it was now or never. I had three days to decide on something that would completely change my life.”
Ten Hag broke his silence on Friday, releasing a statement to thank the United fans, his players and staff. "I want to thank you for giving me this feeling and for your support,” he said. “I also want to thank the staff in every department of the club for their unwavering support in good times and bad.
"We won two trophies - achievements that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Of course, my dream was to bring more trophies to the cabinet. Unfortunately, that dream has come to an end. I wish all Manchester United fans nothing but success, trophies and glory.”
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