Who is Ruben Amorim? Why Man United made their move | OneFootball

Ruben Amorim is set to become the next manager of Manchester United after an agreement was reached between Sporting Lisbon and the Premier League side.

Amorim will be confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s replacement at Old Trafford, following the decision to sack the Dutchman on Monday. The 39-year-old will inherit an underperforming squad in Manchester and will be tasked with reviving the fortunes of a fallen giant.

United have agreed to meet Amorim’s release clause at Estádio José Alvalade, while personal terms have been reached with the Portuguese coach.

But just who is Ruben Amorim? And why have Manchester United moved so swiftly for his services?

Who is Ruben Amorim? Why Manchester United have moved for the Portuguese coach

Amorim’s emergence as one of Europe’s best up-and-coming coaches has been a rapid rise, moving almost instantly into coaching following his retirement as a player.

Born in Lisbon, Amorim began his playing career at Belenenses before spending the bulk of his career at Benfica, where he won three Primeira Liga titles. He later had loan spells at Braga and Qatari outfit Al-Wakrah SC before calling time on a career that also yielded 14 caps for Portugal in 2016.

He began working toward a coaching license and spent a week shadowing José Mourinho at Manchester United as part of an internship. Short spells at Casa Pia and Braga B followed before his appointment as the latter’s senior head coach started a meteoric rise.

After inheriting a team languishing eighth in the Primeira Liga, he picked up ten wins in 13 games, beat Porto in the 2020 Taça da Liga final, and led Braga to a first win at Benfica in 65 years.

Sporting, suitably impressed, paid the third-highest managerial compensation fee (€10m) in history to appoint Amorim after just two months of top-flight experience. It was a gamble that worked.

His first full season saw Amorim lead Sporting to a first Portuguese league title in 19 years, and he added a second league title in 2023/24. Two Taça da Liga trophies have also arrived with Sporting having superseded Porto and Benfica as the division’s top team.

Tactical flexibility and improvement despite star sales

His success has been built on a flexible formation that utilises three central defenders and two players stationed in advanced roles off a centre-forward. With wing-backs stretching the game and a two-man defensive midfield pivot adding increased security, the fluidity of Sporting has contributed to their achievements.

Sporting’s progress has also come despite combating the loss of key personnel. The Portuguese side have raked in some huge transfer fees for players in recent transfer windows, who have shone in his system.

Joao Palhinha, Matheus Nunes and Pedro Porro have all moved to the Premier League for significant sums, while Amorim will reunite with Manuel Ugarte at Old Trafford. The Uruguayan signed for the Red Devils in the summer from Paris Saint-Germain, having left Lisbon in a €60m deal a season earlier.

Together with sporting director Hugo Viana, who will join Manchester City in the summer, Sporting have signed and sold impressively in recent years.

Viktor Gyokeres and Ousmane Diomande are among the current names who could bring in huge fees in the upcoming windows.

Has there been interest from other clubs?

The leading vacancies in European football have not been filled without Amorim’s name first being linked of late. Barcelona, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich were all credited as admirers of his work in the summer, as the quartet made managerial changes.

In April, he was forced to apologise after being spotted in London for talks with an interested club, understood to have been West Ham.

“Obviously my trip was a mistake, the timing was completely wrong, it didn’t seem right at the time,” Amorim told reporters.

“It was wrong, especially when I’m so demanding with my players and always the first to say that each one’s actions can overpower the team. I have already removed players from the squad for much less.

“It was my mistake, I have to accept it and live with it. It didn’t seem so bad at the time, but thinking about it later it’s very clear. I gave explanations to the players and the staff. Now it’s time to move on.

“Obviously, I also use the public part here to apologise to the Sporting fans, the staff and, mainly publicly to my players for the mistake I made.

“It was a mistake because the fact that we are close to winning the championship, nothing has been done yet, and the team leader causes this noise, is a mistake. Whether or not he is authorised. And I’m the biggest defender of that. That’s why I said it is an error.”

Could any players follow Amorim to Old Trafford?

The obvious answer is yes.

Managers often return to their former homes for signings, though Manchester United will be cautious given the disappointment of Erik ten Hag’s Ajax-focused recruitment. However, Sporting have a squad full of talent and already well-versed in Amorim’s methods.

Viktor Gyokeres is the standout name after an extraordinary impact in Lisbon. Signed from Coventry City for just €20m, the Swedish striker now has clubs considering activating his €100m release clause.

He has 59 goals and 19 assists in 65 appearances for Sporting and was the Primeira Liga’s Player of the Season and leading scorer in 2023/24. However, having invested £106m in Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, it remains to be seen whether there’s the budget for a big centre-forward signing.

Ousmane Diomande has impressed as one of the most promising centre-backs outside of Europe’s top five leagues, while fellow defender Goncalo Inacio is a player United have tracked. There could also be interest in Danish midfielder Morten Hjulmand, who scored a brilliant goal against England at Euro 2024.

Read – Van Nistelrooy coy on Man United future amid Amorim deal

See more – Amorim to serve notice period before Manchester United move

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