Ruben Amorim: Mourinho’s Protégé and ‘Crowd Pleaser’ – A Fit for Manchester United?

The Monday Night Club discusses whether Ruben Amorim will depart Sporting Lisbon for Manchester United. Ruben Amorim acquired managerial skills through an internship with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, and now, six years later, he is a prospective candidate for the club’s managerial position. The 39-year-old Portuguese coach has attracted interest from several clubs throughout his brief managerial tenure in his home country, with Old Trafford potentially emerging as the location for his next professional endeavor. Reports on Monday indicated that United was engaged in discussions regarding Amorim’s appointment as Erik ten Hag’s successor. Subsequently, Sporting confirmed United’s interest in activating an £8.3m release clause to acquire Amorim. Amorim was strongly associated with Liverpool following Jurgen Klopp’s announcement to depart the Reds last season, and he held discussions with West Ham regarding their managerial vacancy. Furthermore, his name has surfaced as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. However, having guided Sporting to their first league title in 19 years at the age of 36 in 2021, and securing his second championship with the club last season, the question arises: is Amorim prepared for the demands of the Premier League? Ruben Amorim addresses inquiries connecting him to Manchester United. A former midfielder for Benfica and Portugal, Amorim concluded his playing career in 2018. He began his coaching career the subsequent year, making a significant impact during an effective period managing Braga’s reserve team, which led to his promotion to the first-team manager role. His record of ten victories in 13 matches, notably including a historic first win at Benfica in 65 years, quickly attracted the attention of larger clubs. Sporting was so eager to secure his expertise that they paid 10m euros (£8.6m at the time) to appoint him as their manager in March 2020. European football expert Guillem Balague informed BBC Sport: “His coaching career actually began with Casa Pia, then a third-tier club, where it almost ended as soon as it had begun.” “He lost his first two games and, with his pride hurt and doubts setting in, he announced if he lost the third game he would quit. In the next match he changed the system and played a back three for the first time.” “The system worked and from then on he remained unbeaten at the club. He also felt he had found the formation that allowed him to produce the football he wanted – one invariably linked to the spectacle for the fans.” “From there, he never looked back as he went to Braga and then Sporting.” This transfer fee represented the third-highest ever paid for a manager, but it quickly proved to be a sound investment. Amorim guided the club through a 32-match unbeaten streak, securing the Portuguese league cup and concluding their nearly two-decade long wait for a league championship, an achievement they replicated last season. Abel Xavier, a former defender for Liverpool and Portugal, spent time with Amorim during their coaching badge courses and was impressed by his initial observations. “He is very humble, discreet, and has a very clear mindset,” Xavier stated to BBC World Service. “At Braga we saw an immediate impact because, with the same squad, with the same players, he transformed the team.” “He put in place his ideas, he changed the dynamic, he created empathy, and of course a big club like Sporting Lisbon paid to have him.” Ruben Amorim secured two top-flight titles with Sporting Lisbon. The Football News Show questions if Manchester United remains an appealing managerial position. Although he may have developed his professional skills under Mourinho and maintains a close friendship with the former Manchester United manager, their footballing philosophies diverge significantly. Balague commented: “Amorim would admit he is still adding layers of knowledge to his methods but he still believes football only makes sense if those watching are thrilled by it.” “As well as those lessons from his former coach Jorge Jesus, Amorim looked closely at those who show a special quality as leaders, including Mourinho.” “He is, though, an enthusiast of spectacular, offensive football, with lots of goals, domination and control. He is a crowd pleaser.” Amorim’s managerial approach will be recognizable to several Premier League players; Manuel Ugarte of United, Matheus Nunes of Manchester City, Pedro Porro of Tottenham, and Joao Palhinha of Bayern Munich were all members of his 2020-21 championship-winning squad. While at Sporting, the 39-year-old frequently employed a 3-4-3 formation, utilizing a low defensive block complemented by attacking wing-backs positioned high on the field. Without possession, his teams press aggressively, and upon gaining possession, they execute rapid counter-attacks. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes also expressed admiration. “I think all the qualities are there to be able to succeed in English, French, or Spanish football,” he stated to SportTV last year. “Obviously, we know that the Premier League is probably the most desired. The qualities [to succeed in England] are there and he has everything to take the next step, in my opinion.” Balague further remarked: “Amorim is like a sponge. After training and meetings, he likes to spend a couple of hours in his home office watching games, reading about football and managers, organising zooms with people he can learn new things from.” “He speaks good English and his recent reading material includes books about Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho.” Achieving success in Portugal and replicating it at Manchester United represent distinct challenges. Ten Hag’s departure leaves the club in 14th place in the Premier League, having secured only three victories from their initial nine fixtures. This raises the question of why Amorim would be the individual capable of reinstating past triumphs when prominent figures before him have been unsuccessful. Portuguese football writer Marcus Alves stated: “On the pitch, he has always delivered.” “Not even the constant sales in the transfer market have proved to be a problem for him. Under Amorim, no player is irreplaceable and more important than the club.” “The Manchester United job may look like an impossible one right now, but so did Sporting’s when Amorim was unveiled as their head coach on 5 March 2020.” “Eloquent and outgoing, Amorim is irresistible and dominates the words in such a way that Cristiano Ronaldo used to call him ‘poet’ in the national team.” “Above all, the 39-year-old doesn’t tolerate lack of professionalism. This is a man who has pacified a team who seemed to be at war with itself once. He surely can do that twice if he’s allowed to.” The Football News Show explores whether Erik ten Hag’s dismissal negatively impacts Manchester United’s ownership. This brings us back to the genesis of Amorim’s career. Alves explained: “On Mourinho, Amorim did a post-grad[uate degree] which included a kind of internship under Mourinho, so he spent a week in Manchester with him.” “Think it was in 2017 and also included a class where Mourinho revealed how United beat Ajax in the Europa League final.” Balague further stated: “His generosity is well-known, particularly to those that had his back in his early days of management with Casa Pia before finding themselves facing hard times.” “He does not forget those years and continues to help and pay for the housing of some Casa Pia footballers he worked with during that tenure.” The question arises: why would he choose to move now, if he indeed decides to join Old Trafford? Amorim had previous opportunities to depart Sporting and was heavily rumored as a potential successor to Guardiola at Manchester City, should the Spaniard opt to leave Etihad Stadium this season. Balague commented: “The feeling is that Portugal has become too small for him and he is more than prepared to move on to bigger things.” “Now there is a new-found maturity and he is keen to find out if his very close way of dealing with players, with tactics, with fans and the media, works somewhere out of his comfort zone.”