A whisky brand has delivered a cheeky warning to the new Manchester United manager – not to ‘balls it up’ when they get behind the desk.
The job, one of the biggest in world football, has been described as a poisoned chalice in the past.
3
But interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy started them off on the right foot with a thumping 5-2 win at home against Leicester last night.
Fireball cinnamon whisky liqueur parked the tongue-in-cheek van outside Old Trafford, which also offering a free drink to the incoming coach.
And the new full-time boss, Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim, is going to need more than Dutch Courage to succeed.
Lorenzo Farronato for the brand said: “As the next stage of Manchester United’s managerial saga appears to be almost decided, we’re thrilled to be able to give United fans something to spice up the occasion.
“We want to wish the manager the best of luck in their new role and to let them know that Fireball is here for any celebrations (or commiserations) that come with the next rollercoaster era of club leadership.”
Man Utd today announced Amorim as their new head coach on a three-year deal.
But the Portuguese boss will stay at Sporting until the international break, formally taking charge of the Red Devils on November 11.
His first match will be away at Ipswich, whose manager Kieran McKenna was linked with the United job in the summer.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Ruud van Nistelrooy will remain in temporary charge until Amorim formally begins work.
United have home games against Chelsea, PAOK Thessaloniki and Leicester before Amorim takes over.
Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man Utd
WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.
Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.
