Ruben Amorim

has revealed that Manchester United told him it was “now or never” after being handed a brief midway through the season to restore the Premier League giants to the pinnacle of English and European football.

The 39-year-old Sporting Lisbon coach quickly emerged as the favourite for the Old Trafford job after Erik ten Hag was sacked on Monday following a poor start to the season.

Amorim has signed a deal until 2027 and will join the club on 11 November, becoming the sixth permanent manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Speaking publicly for the first time since being offered one of the biggest jobs in world football, Amorim said it had been a whirlwind few days.

“The only question I asked was to go at the end of the season,” Amorim said on Friday after Sporting thrashed Estrela 5-1 in the Portuguese league.

“But I was told it was now or never. I had three days to make the decision. That’s what I did.

“If I rejected it now, in six months I would not have got it. I didn’t want to regret making this decision.”

Amorim said he had been approached by other clubs, one of which had offered him “three times” the amount he would earn at United.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will remain in temporary charge until Amorim arrives at Old Trafford.