On the 28th, Manchester United officially announced the dismissal of Erik ten Hag. He failed to improve the team’s overall performance, especially as Manchester United’s ranking in the Premier League dropped significantly.
According to the Athletic, Manchester United has started the process to appoint Ruben Amorim as the new head coach. After achieving success with his Portuguese club, Amorim has become one of the most sought-after young coaches in Europe. It is not surprising that Manchester United has listed him as their top target to replace Ten Hag.
At 39, Ruben Amorim is considered one of Europe’s top young coaches. During his brief coaching career with the Portugal national team, he has attracted interest from several clubs.
Ruben Amorim’s Coaching Career
Ruben Amorim played for Benfica and the Portugal national team. He retired in 2018 and made his coaching debut the following year. He performed well while coaching Braga’s reserve team and was soon promoted to head coach of the first team.
In 13 matches, Ruben Amorim won 10, including a significant victory against Benfica after 65 years. This success quickly caught the attention of bigger clubs. Lisbon Sporting was so eager to hire Ruben Amorim that they paid €10 million (£8.6 million) in March 2020 to make him their head coach.
This was the third-highest transfer fee ever for a coach, but it quickly proved to be worth it. Amorim led the team to an unbeaten record of 32 matches and won the Portuguese League Cup, ending a nearly 20-year wait for the league title.
Ruben Amorim’s Coaching Style
Amorim is always expanding his teaching methods, but he believes that football is only meaningful when it excites the audience. He closely observes players with strong leadership qualities and favors exciting attacking football that is high-scoring and dominant. He is a fan-favorite coach.
Many players in the Premier League are familiar with Ruben Amorim’s management style. Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte, Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes, Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro, and Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha were all part of the championship team he led in the 2020-21 season.
At Lisbon Sporting, Ruben Amorim often used a 3-4-3 formation, employing low defensive pressure while pushing attacking wing-backs high on the pitch. They aggressively pressed without the ball and quickly counter-attacked when they had possession.
Why Would Manchester United Want to Hire Ruben Amorim?
“On the pitch, he has always delivered,” said Marcus Alves, a Portuguese football writer. “Not even the constant player sales have been a problem for him. Under Amorim, no player is irreplaceable or more important than the club.”
“Amorim is eloquent and outgoing; he commands attention, so much so that Cristiano Ronaldo once called him ‘poet’ in the national team.”
“Above all, the 39-year-old does not tolerate a lack of professionalism. This is a man who has calmed a team that once seemed to be at war with itself. He can surely do that again if given the chance.”
It seems that Ruben Amorim could help Manchester United escape their current struggles, as they sit 14th in the Premier League after only 3 wins in the first 9 matches.
Will Ruben Amorim Move to Manchester United?
European football expert Guillem Balague suggests that Portugal is too small for Ruben Amorim, and he is ready to pursue bigger goals. However, there are rumors that he may replace Guardiola at Manchester City.
It’s possible that Ruben Amorim will leave the Etihad Stadium soon, but whether he will coach Manchester United remains uncertain.
