Revealed: The seven reasons Man Utd picked 'proven winner' Ruben Amorim as Erik ten Tag's replacement despite Sporting CP notice period and costly release clause

The Red Devils have agreed a contract with Amorim until 2027, four days after firing Ten Hag for overseeing a miserable start to the season with just four wins in 14 games in all competitions. The Portuguese will not begin work at Old Trafford until November 11 after agreeing to serve some of the notice period in his contract with Sporting and taking charge of their next three games before the international break. United have paid €10 million (£8.4m/$11m) to release Amorim from his contract, plus an additional €1m for him to leave Sporting before the end of his one-month notice period. A club source clarified that United were fully aware of the release clause and the notice period when they began negotiations with the Portuguese club on Monday.

The source gave seven reasons why United believe Amorim, 39, is the right man to turn the club's fortunes around

1) The Portuguese is a 'proven winner', having guided Sporting to two league titles as well as two League Cups

2) He has a defined style of play, centred around a 3-4-3 formation

3) His personality

4) His track record of developing young players

5) His 'huge energy'

6) He will 'work very well within our new sporting structure and is a further, critical piece in transforming our football operations'

7) Amorim is a 'notably different profile' from former United coaches such as Ten Hag, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

The club source added: "Ruben is the only coach we spoke to in this process. There were no other conversations. We identified him as our number one choice and we secured him quickly and quietly. Ruben is the most exciting young coach in European football. He has rightly been linked with a host of roles. We are delighted to have secured him and he is delighted to be joining Manchester United. He is a proven winner."

United sent a delegation to Lisbon on Monday, the very same day that Ten Hag's sacking was announced, to speak to Sporting face-to-face and communicate their desire to hire Amorim and explore releasing him earlier. The source said the Red Devils respected that Sporting have "important games ahead" against Estrela Amadora, Manchester City and Braga before the international break and "understood their desire to hold Amorim to the terms of his release clause". The club are also pleased to have struck an agreement that means he can begin work three weeks before he would have joined otherwise.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to coach United before Amorim takes up his new position, with the source adding that the club were "very confident in Ruud’s ability to oversee the team in the meantime". Van Nistelrooy will face an in-form Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday before a Europa League game against PAOK next Thursday, ending his brief spell against Leicester in the Premier League on November 10. The legendary striker enjoyed a dream start to his interim spell with a thumping 5-2 win over the Foxes in the Carabao Cup this week and has said he wants to work under Amorim. United, however, are yet to confirm the new head coach's background staff.