Sporting Lisbon have pulled off a sensational comeback against Braga to give Ruben Amorim a fairytale ending to his time as manager as he prepares to fly to England to take up his new role as Manchester United boss.
The Portuguese has won two titles during a brilliant four-year spell at the club which has now come to an end after agreeing to become Erik ten Hag’s successor at Old Trafford.
The terms of his contract meant he would take charge of three more matches at Sporting before flying to England and settling in during the international break before the first match at Ipswich on November 24.
He further endeared himself to his new fan base in one of the games, humiliating Man City 4-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday thanks to a hat-trick from rumored Red Devils target Victor Gyokeres.
His final chapter as Sporting manager tonight looked like it was ending on a sour note with the team trailing 2-0 against Braga at half-time, but in a frenetic final 35 minutes, Amorim’s men scored four goals and gave them perfect shipping. off.
Rubén Amorim says goodbye to Sporting Lisbon after a dramatic comeback
His team trailed 2-0 at half-time and has a double from Conrad Harder to thank for the victory.
The center forward scored a long shot in the 89th minute and put Sporting ahead.
The hosts took the lead after Ricardo Horta took advantage of a chaotic defense and scored from three meters out.
The right winger then doubled Braga’s lead after being released in the box, his shot past the Sporting goalkeeper and into the net.
Amorim must have given the visitors a rocket at half-time, as his team looked like a completely different proposition in the second half.
They got back into the game thanks to a Hide Morita rebound from a corner before Morten Hjulmand put things right with 10 minutes left.
A quick-fire brace from Conrad Harder, including a spectacular low shot from outside the box that gave Sporting the lead, completed the comeback and gave Amorim the chance to bid a joyous farewell to the traveling contingent.
The result maintains their perfect start to the league campaign and leaves them on the path to a third title in five years.
The 39-year-old will arrive in England on Monday but will not be able to start work as United’s new manager until he is granted a work permit.
Most of the players will be away on international commitments anyway, and Amorim’s first match won’t be played for another two weeks.
Morten Hjullmand scored the dramatic equalizer in Braga on Sunday in Amorim’s final match
The Portuguese coach was cheerful until the end, when he happily said goodbye
He has won two titles with Sporting and leaves them well on their way to winning a third in five years
He will not be revealed to the media until his pre-match press conference, although he is expected to speak to United’s in-house television station before then.
The club wants Amorim to settle in England as soon as possible and find a place to live during the international break.
He is said to be interested in bringing five members of his coaching staff to Old Trafford from Sporting, who have shaped the future of United’s coaching staff, including Ruud van Nistelrooy, who completed his four-match spell as caretaker manager with another victory. against Leicester. on Sunday.
Amorim joined Sporting in 2020 and led them to their first league title since 2002 the following year.
He repeated the feat last season, and Sporting have made a perfect start to the current campaign, winning all eight league games to open up a three-point lead at the top of the table.
He has achieved wins in 170 (71.73 percent) of his 237 games in charge, drawing 34 and losing 33.
Sporting have scored 514 goals in this period, an average of 2.17 per game. Meanwhile, they concede 0.82 goals per game on average.
Earlier this week, Amorim told TNT Sports: “(It’s been) very tough.” The worst and best week of my life. I have no other way to explain it.
The Portuguese will be Erik ten Hag’s successor after the Dutchman was fired last month
Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy is unclear about his future under new boss
Amorim will join a United team fresh from an impressive 3-0 victory over Leicester
“Very hard because I’m leaving because I’m leaving a very good place, but I’m leaving for one of the best clubs in the world, so it’s been very hard, but it is what it is.”
When asked how his coaching experience in the Premier League will differ from his coaching experience in his native Portugal, the former Benfica midfielder insisted he feels prepared to take on “the best coaches in the world.”
He continued: “I think it’s a big challenge, but not just Pep (Guardiola).
“In England, there are all the best coaches, all the best teams. It’s going to be a different world because in Portugal you have the three big teams and you have many weeks, difficult games, but you control the games.”
‘(England) is a different world. “I need that as a coach now, but to say I expect to face challenges like that every week, maybe not.”