Ruben Amorim is in talks to become the next Manchester United manager, with the Premier League club keen to appoint the highly-rated 39-year-old as Erik ten Hag’s successor.
Despite announcing that Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge on an interim basis, United have moved swiftly to try and negotiate a deal with the Sporting Lisbon boss.
The Red Devils may still have to negotiate a release clause, believed to be around €10million (£8.3m), but the club may deem it a necessary figure to prise away a coach who has been courting interest from several top European clubs.
Liverpool were mooted as a potential destination last summer after Jurgen Klopp announced his depature, while Amorim publically flew to London for talks with West Ham. Barcelona, Juventus and Bayern Munich were all linked too.
And it’s easy to see why. Having led Sporting to their first league title in 19 years in 2021, the young Portuguese coach repeated the trick last year and already has his side six points clear at the top of the table after nine straight wins this season.
In 2018, Amorim travelled to Old Trafford to undertake an internship alongside his coaching idol and United boss at the time, Jose Mourinho. Six years later, the job could be his.
Playing career
Making his senior first-team debut in 2003 for Belenenses in the Portuguese first division, Amorim is most well-known for his time at Benfica where he made 154 appearances across six seasons.
Usually playing in central midfield but also deployed at right-back, he won three league titles during his time with Benfica as well as a domestic treble in 2013-14.
Internationally, he made 14 appearances and featured in the 2010 and 2014 World Cup for Portugal but was forced into a somewhat early retirement aged 32 due to injuries.
Managerial record
While injuries may have forced him into an early retirement, it also provided the perfect springboard for an early move into coaching.
In 2018, he took over at third-tier side Casa Pia but saw that opportunity come to a grinding halt when the side was docked six points and Amorim handed a suspended year-long sentence for delivering instructions during a match without the required licence.
The following September, Amorim was afforded an opportunity as coach of coach Braga reserves where he had previously spent two seasons on loan as a player.
Just three months later, he found himself with the first-team job following the sacking Ricardo Sá Pinto and proved an immediate hit. Having guided the club to cup glory in January he was on the move again, poached by in March by Sporting for an eyebrow-raising €10m fee.
How many trophies did Ruben Amorim win at Sporting?
Sporting’s gamble on a young, relatively unproven Amorim proved a masterstroke, with the then-36-year-old guiding the club to league glory in 2021.
Amorim repeated the feat in emphatic style last season, winning 29 of their 34 games to finish 10 points ahead of second-placed Benfica. He has also won the Portuguese League Cup on two occasions with Sporting.
So far in his career, he has won 194 of the 268 matches he has managed which makes for an impressive 72.39 win percentage.
What is Ruben Amorim’s style of play?
Should Amorim be given the keys to Old Trafford, one early change is likely to be the use of a back three which he has deployed throughout his managerial career so far.
Usually settling on a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 formation, the Portuguese coach likes his side to keep the ball but is also known for his versatility in attacking approaches and is happy to play direct to a physical presence up top.
Such a system has got the best out of Viktor Gyokeres who already has 12 goals in nine games this season, while central midfielder Morten Hjulmand and the attacking Pedro Goncalves have also caught the eye. United’s summer signing Manuel Ugarte enjoyed a similarly positive spell at Sporting alongside Amorim before his move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Amorim is also willing to put faith in young players, providing a platform at Sporting for the likes of Mattheus Nunes, Pedro Porro and Nuno Mendes who have all gone to join top European clubs.
17-year-old Geovany Quenda, ironically linked with United in the week, scored his first senior goal last weekend and is the latest example of that trust in youngsters.
Off the pitch, Amorim’s approach has garnered praise, too. Already fluent in English, he has often adopted a friendly approach with the media and is seen as an impressive communicator not only with the press but with his players.
Should he walk into the pressure-cooker environment of Old Trafford, he will need all of those qualities if he is to achieve success.
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