November 1st 2024.
Ruben Amorim is edging closer to a deal with Manchester United, as he looks set to take over from former manager Erik ten Hag. Fans are eager to know what tactics and style of play they can expect from the highly-rated Portuguese coach.
Despite only parting ways with ten Hag on Monday, United have acted swiftly to secure a deal with Sporting Lisbon boss Amorim. The Red Devils had to pay a hefty fee of over €10million to activate his release clause and secure an early start, but they deemed it necessary in order to secure a coach who has been attracting interest from several top European clubs.
Rumours of a potential move to Liverpool surfaced last summer after Jurgen Klopp's departure, while Amorim was also publicly linked with West Ham, Barcelona, Juventus, and Bayern Munich. And it's not hard to see why - after leading Sporting to their first league title in 19 years in 2021, the young Portuguese coach repeated the feat last year and currently has his team sitting six points clear at the top of the table with nine straight wins this season.
Amorim's journey to Old Trafford has been a long one, as he previously travelled to the stadium in 2018 to undertake an internship with his coaching idol and then-United manager Jose Mourinho. Now, six years later, he has landed the job for himself.
But who exactly is Ruben Amorim and what experience does he bring to the table? The former player made his senior first-team debut in 2003 for Belenenses in the Portuguese first division, but he is most well-known for his time at Benfica, where he made 154 appearances over six seasons. Although he usually played in central midfield, he was also deployed as a right-back and won three league titles during his time at Benfica, along with a domestic treble in 2013-14. On the international stage, he made 14 appearances for Portugal and featured in both the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, but was forced into an early retirement at the age of 32 due to injuries.
However, Amorim's early retirement also provided the perfect opportunity for a move into coaching. In 2018, he took over at third-tier side Casa Pia, but his time there was cut short when the club was docked six points and he was handed a suspended one-year sentence for giving instructions during a match without the proper coaching license. But just a year later, he was given a chance as the coach of Braga reserves, where he had previously spent two seasons on loan as a player. And after just three months, he was promoted to the first-team following the sacking of Ricardo Sá Pinto. Amorim proved to be an immediate success, leading the club to cup glory in January before being poached by Sporting in March for a hefty fee of €10million.
Sporting's gamble on the young and relatively unproven Amorim paid off, with the then-36-year-old leading the team to league glory in 2021. He repeated the feat in impressive fashion last season, winning 29 out of 34 games and finishing 10 points ahead of second-placed Benfica. He has also won the Portuguese League Cup twice with Sporting, bringing his total managerial record to 182 wins out of 256 matches - an impressive 71.09% win percentage.
So what tactics and style of play could Amorim bring to Manchester United? One major change is expected to be a shift towards a back three formation, which he has utilized throughout his managerial career. While he typically sticks to a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 formation, Amorim is also known for his versatility in setting up his team based on the opponent, but he prefers to see his side with a high defensive line and a focus on ball control.
Wing-backs are expected to play a crucial role in providing attacking width for the team, which could be a good fit for players like Noussair Mazraoui. However, Amorim has also been known to use wingers in wing-back positions to enhance his team's creativity in attack. This system has proven successful for players like Viktor Gyokeres, who has already scored 12 goals in nine league games this season, and midfielders Morten Hjulmand and Pedro Goncalves, who have caught the eye under Amorim's guidance. Another potential addition to the team is Manuel Ugarte, who previously played under Amorim at Sporting and could provide valuable coverage in the midfield.
One notable aspect of Amorim's coaching style is his willingness to trust and develop young players, as seen with the success of Mattheus Nunes, Pedro Porro, and Nuno Mendes, who have all gone on to join top European clubs. He has also given opportunities to 17-year-old Geovany Quenda, who was ironically linked with a move to United this week and scored his first senior goal last weekend. Off the field, Amorim's friendly and communicative approach has garnered praise, as he is fluent in English and has been praised for his interactions with the media and players.
With the pressure-cooker environment of Old Trafford looming, Amorim will need to draw on all of his qualities in order to achieve success. But with his impressive track record and unique tactics, Manchester United fans have reason to be excited about the future under their new manager.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
