According to Skysports reports Manchester United are in advanced discussions with Sporting CP’s head coach Ruben Amorim, who could potentially take charge for the upcoming Premier League match against Chelsea on Sunday.
United have reached out to Sporting regarding the appointment of Ruben Amorim as their new manager, with discussions reportedly progressing to make the 39-year-old the successor to Erik ten Hag, who was dismissed on Monday morning.
Ruben Amorim was part of the club’s shortlist of options as revealed by Sky Sports News on Monday, and on Tuesday Sporting informed the Portuguese stock exchange that Man United were prepared to pay the £8.3m release clause.
While a deal is not yet finalized, and sources emphasize that an announcement of United’s new permanent manager is not expected soon, if a compensation agreement is reached,Ruben Amorim could potentially be on the sidelines at Old Trafford for Sunday’s home match against Chelsea.
Who is Ruben Amorim?
Rúben Amorim, the current manager of Sporting CP, has quickly risen to prominence as one of the most talented young managers in European football. Known for his tactical ingenuity, ability to nurture young talent, and track record of achieving success with Sporting, Amorim is now on the radar of several top clubs.
Amorim was linked with the West Ham job, the Liverpool job and there is even talk of him being a Manchester City manager one day.
He is one of the most coveted young coaches in Europe at the moment. Not only United are interested.
A former Benfica and Portugal midfielder, Amorim retired as a player in 2017 and just two years later he took up his first managerial job at Braga.
He then joined Sporting in March 2020 where he has established himself as one of Europe’s most sought-after young coaches, twice guiding the club to the league title.
He has also won the Taca da Liga – the Portuguese League Cup – on three occasions, twice with Sporting and once with Braga.
What is his playing style?
The Portuguese favors playing with three centre-backs in his much-loved 3-4-3 system. However, Ruben Amorim is also known to deploy a 3-5-2 system.
According to Portuguese football journalist Pedro Sepulveda:
“Amorim always plays with three centre-backs, so Man Utd will have to change their tactics from under Ten Hag.
“It is offensive football, a team that scores many, many goals and they hardly concede any, so he has a concrete idea how to play.
“However, we have seen many times that if Amorim wants to change formation due to the opponent he is facing, that is not a problem too.
“More importantly, he is a coach that studies his opponents a lot and the Premier League is a really good league for Amorim.
“Amorim always says he does not have Twitter or Instagram, he says he never knows what is written in the press.
“But he is a coach whose communication is very, very good, if you look at his press conferences, he always says the right things.
“In my opinion, he is a coach who is above the others in terms of communication and behaviour during and after the match, which is very important these days.
“Of course, he will have the pressure of being Man Utd coach, but there are some similarities with here, like Man Utd are not used to winning things.
“So I really think he could make United one of the favourites for next season’s Premier League.”
Is Ruben Amorim the right manager for Manchester United?
As a former professional midfielder who played in the Portuguese league, Rúben Amorim brings valuable playing experience to his managerial career.
Under his leadership, Sporting CP has consistently been competitive in both domestic and European competitions. Amorim has brought trophies back to the club, including the Taça da Liga (Portuguese League Cup), while continuing to push Sporting towards the top of Portuguese football. His proven track record, despite his young age, highlights his capability as a manager with an impressive balance of tactical acumen and leadership skills.
One of Rúben Amorim’s standout qualities is his commitment to youth development. At Sporting CP, he has brought young players into the first team, giving them the chance to flourish under his guidance. Key players like Nuno Mendes, Matheus Nunes, and Gonçalo Inácio are just a few examples of Sporting’s young talent who have thrived under Amorim’s system.
Manchester United is a huge job but whether Ruben Amorim could succeed at Old Trafford is a wait and see affair.