Topics: Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has already hinted at the manager he would like to replace Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman's departure from Old Trafford.
Ten Hag, 54, was sacked by United on Monday morning following a torrid run of form, which culminated in a crushing 2-1 defeat away at West Ham United on Sunday afternoon.
Fernandes was part of Ten Hag’s final starting XI but could not help his now-former boss keep his job at Old Trafford.
Of course, fans are already keen to know who could replace the Dutchman with Thomas Frank, Xabi Alonso and Julien Nagelsmann all linked with the role but Fernandes has previously expressed his admiration for his Portuguese counterpart and current Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim.
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Speaking ahead of Portugal's Nations League clash against Poland earlier this month, he said: “Since Mr Amorim arrived at Sporting, it has been one of the teams to practice better football.
“They have been consistent, the signings have been right and they are in a very good moment. It's a very well-prepared team.
“In relation to Amorim, it shows at this moment he is prepared. Coaching Sporting and winning championships is not easy, Sporting went 20 years without winning championships and Amorim arrived and has already won two. This shows that the work has been done well."
He added: “If he could manage to do the same in England, Spain or anywhere else, you will never know until you get there, but I am sure his qualities are there for everyone to see.”
It's unclear whether Fernandes has discussed his admiration for the Sporting boss with the hierarchy at United but it is fairly clear given his previous comments that he would be pleased if Amorim was to get the job at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag's assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to take interim charge of the team but Amorim is currently the second favourite to take over on a permanent basis according to Oddschecker.
Amorim was tight-lipped when he was asked about the United job last year.
He said: "This year I’m not going to go back to the same conversation as last year. I’m not going to make any kind of comment on these situations.
"We don’t know the future, it depends on the results.
"It has more to do with the general idea of what we need as a team, extra pressure so we don’t hide."
Amorim added: "Regarding the future, I have an idea for the end of the season but I won’t say it now. But the results and the context take us to something different."
