Is Rúben Amorim the answer to Manchester United’s prayers?

Manchester United FC are one of the most followed football clubs in the world and boast of a massive global fan base north of a billion strong. However, the past decade has not seen their men’s team dominate the way they once did during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

While former players and pundits have often pointed fingers at the owners and the club’s administration for their struggles, the reality is simpler: Man United are yet to find a worthy successor to the legendary Scot. Despite recruiting experienced managers like David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, and José Mourinho, the Red Devils have failed to recapture the success of their glory days.

Their problems have only worsened in recent years. After a little over two seasons in charge, Erik ten Hag was axed last month after his side’s poor start to the season. United are currently 13th in the Premier League table and performing relatively poorly in the UEFA Europa League too. 

The United job is currently one of the most challenging roles in world football given the club’s immense global popularity and the high expectations that stem from their storied history. In light of this, United had been exploring several managerial options as early as this summer and have ultimately roped in Rúben Amorim from Sporting CP to replace Ten Hag. The 39-year-old has caught the eye of top clubs with his impressive tenure at the José Alvalade, where he delivered multiple trophies while instilling an aggressive, dynamic style of play.

In his playing days, Amorim operated as a midfielder. Over the course of his career, he earned several prestigious honours in the Primeira Liga. The 14-cap former Portugal international retired from playing in 2017 and quickly transitioned into management. He began his coaching career at Casa Pia AC before moving on to manage SC Braga’s men’s B team and, eventually, their senior team.

In 2020, Amorim joined Sporting, where he showcased his tactical acumen and garnered massive success as head coach of their men’s first team. His successful time with the Leões didn’t go unnoticed as several Premier League sides were interested in him last season as well as in the summer, though nothing substantial materialised and he continued his work at Sporting until Man United came calling. 

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Amorim likes to field a possession-based 3-4-3 setup, with a double pivot in midfield that is responsible for protecting the defence as the wingbacks and attackers press higher up the pitch. He has also used the 4-2-4 formation in recent times, in which the defence and midfield players hold their positions and the forward line operates more flexibly. With the wingbacks bombing higher up the pitch, having too many players in the central area means more direct balls from the midfield to the forward players, but they also have the option to cross from the wide areas if the central areas are crowded by the opposition. 

Amorim definitely has a high-quality squad of players at his disposal. Of course, some players that were brought in by Ten Hag might not suit his style, but his initial intent would be to train the existing players and get few reinforcements in January. In addition, he also has experienced players in Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, and Diego Dalot on his side.

However, it’s not easy for a new manager or head coach to come midway through the season and work miracles; it takes time for them to instil their preferred style and formation while building rapport with a new squad of players. So, the Man United faithful will award him breathing space initially.

In my opinion, Amorim clearly understands the style of football from his players and is an excellent communicator who supports and backs his players. At his previous club, he fostered a positive environment that allowed his players to thrive, while also focusing on developing youth players such as Geovany Quenda, Nuno Mendes, Manuel Ugarte, and Gonçalo Inácio.

Now, some things to keep in mind: Amorim hasn’t yet coached a team outside of Portugal. While the Primeira Liga is no cakewalk, the Premier League is a whole different level of challenge. There’s the constant scrutiny courtesy of the English media, and on top of all that he has joined a United team that haven’t won the league in over a decade.

It’s not just about winning domestic trophies anymore; United haven’t even come close to challenging for the Premier League or the UEFA Champions League since Ferguson’s retirement. This has to be seen as a significant failure for a once-dominant outfit that used to win everything.

This makes for a high-pressure environment for any new coach, but it’s one Amorim will have to learn to deliver in sooner rather than later, as patience among fans runs short these days. 

The months ahead certainly promise to be intriguing for Man United, a phase their supporters will eagerly embrace as a young, successful coach begins work with a fresh vision and new ideas. However, only time will tell whether he is truly the answer to United’s prayers, one capable of swiftly transforming the team into genuine title contenders, or if he will become just another man falling short at Old Trafford.