RUBEN AMORIM has added his own tribute to long-term employee Kath Phipps who passed away this week.
Messages flooded in from Manchester United greats following the news of Kath’s death on Thursday at the age of 85 after 56 years working for the club in a variety of roles.
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New United boss Amorim had met her when he came to Carrington on a coaching internship under Jose Mourinho.
Amorim said: “Yeah, you feel it today, it’s a sad day.
“Everybody talks about lady Kathy. I met her seven years ago during the internship, she was the lady behind the reception.
“And you feel it, the love. The way Darren Fletcher speaks about her.
“She was a really important person here that represents everything about this club, friendly, professional, taking care of everybody, it’s a sad day.”
David Beckham added his own heartfelt message late last night for the lady who looked after him after he arrived as a 15-year-old lad from London.
Beckham posted a message on Instagram saying: “The first and last face I would always see was Kath sat at reception at Old Trafford waiting to give me my tickets for the game, she was the heartbeat of Manchester United, everyone knew who Kath was and everyone adored her.
“I moved up to Manchester at 15 and Kath made a promise to my mum and dad ‘I’ll look after your boy for you don’t you worry.’
“And from that first day till the last day I spent with her that’s exactly what she did ❤.
“Old Trafford will never be the same without your smile as we walk through those doors. We love you ❤.”
United’s club statement partially read: “Kath was a one-woman institution, whose memory will be cherished by everyone at the club who had the privilege of knowing her.
“She said last year: “I can’t imagine doing anything else.” Well, we can’t imagine the place without her.
“Rest in peace, Kath.”
The Red Devils paid tribute to Kath in 2023 with a feature about her life and career, in which they described her as the “heartbeat of United”.
Kath’s first role at the club was as a telephone switchboard operator, in 1968 when Sir Matt Busby was in charge.
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