Roy Keane sides with Ruben Amoim after first major decision at Manchester United

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·15. November 2024

Roy Keane sides with Ruben Amoim after first major decision at Manchester United

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has praised Ruben Amorim for his first major call after arriving as the club’s new head coach.

There was only one real contender to replace Erik ten Hag when United sacked the Dutchman.

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While Thomas Tuchel was heavily linked with the job in the summer, the German took the England job which meant United had to look elsewhere.

INEOS wasted no time getting their man after identifying Ruben Amorim as their prime target to succeed Ten Hag.

After a slow start to the season, Amorim needs to pick up from where Ruud van Nistelrooy left, by securing three points when the team travels to Ipswich Town after the international break.

During the transition, Van Nistelrooy stepped in as interim manager, managing four matches with three wins and one draw to stop the rot.

Following Amorim’s arrival on Monday, the club confirmed that Van Nistelrooy had departed and would no longer be part of the coaching staff. It has been strongly suggested that this was the new head coach’s decision.

Many expected this because a new manager will always want to do things his own way. That is why Amorim has brought his coaching staff from Sporting CP.

However, it’s still sad to see Van Nistelrooy leave the club. He’s a prominent figure at the club and is adored by the fans and players.

Ruben Amorim is his own man

Photo by @ManUtd on X

Amorim is doing things his way and deserves credit for that.

On the latest episode of Stick to Football, Keane praised Amorim for the decision.

“I told you weeks ago, you didn’t listen to me! He was never staying,” Keane told his co-hosts. “Of course, he wasn’t going to stay – it’s the game.

“He did well. He beat some teams, Leicester twice. He handled himself well, of course. He looked smart, spoke well, I’m not saying anything against that stuff, but he was never going to stay.

“When the new manager comes in, especially when Ruud was saying ‘I want to stay and help the club’, Ruud was never going to stay. “

Former team-mate Gary Neville weighed in and asked whether Amorim would have considered keeping Van Nistelrooy, but Keane was having none of it.

“I wouldn’t have thought so,” Keane added. “When he’s got 26 of his own staff coming in, and you don’t need Ruud, who’s obviously been part of the previous [regime], absolutely not. You give him a few bob (money, for contract termination), everyone wins, simple.”

Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand believes Amorim made a mistake by not keeping Van Nistelrooy at the club.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on it one way or another.