The third wing was the charm for Rúben Filipe Marques Amorim (Lisbon, 1985). In the summer he negotiated with Liverpool, apologized for meeting with West Ham, was rumored to be a possible replacement for Guardiola at City… and, finally, he will coach Manchester United. On Sunday he will make his Premier League debut against Ipswich, but who is he and how does the new coach of the ‘red devils’ play?
The Portuguese coach had his first training session with Manchester United
Cook before friar
Amorim was a footballer, a midfielder to be exact. He stood out in Belenenses, but, above all, he made a career in Benfica, a team of which he is a youth player… and a fan. With the ‘Águilas’ he played 153 games – he scored six goals and distributed 14 assists – which helped him become international with Portugal.
Amorim, together with Fábio Coentrao.FPF
“I always really liked Zidane and Xabi Alonso. When I played as ‘6’ I looked at what to go to the national team,” acknowledges Amorim, who also played on loan in Braga and Al Wakrah.
I always really liked Zidane and Xabi Alonso. When I played as ‘6’ I paid attention to what Xabi and Busquets did
Ruben Amorim
meteoric rise
Amorim retired young, in 2017, at 32 years old. By then, his goal was clear: to be a coach. “I know it’s not like playing, but it’s a way to be connected to football and the field. I retired too soon and I’m trying to fill that void,” he confessed to ‘Tribuna Expresso’.
I know that training is not like playing, but it is a way to be connected with football and the field
Ruben Amorim
He could have coached the Benfica reserve team, but he rejected it. His beginnings were so abrupt… that he didn’t even have a license! The orders were given by his second. Just 13 games in the First Division with Braga – he had a brief previous stint at Casa Pia in the Third Division – catapulted him: he won the League Cup (2019-20) and Sporting CP stood out by paying 10 million! for him, making him, at that time, the third most expensive coach in history.
The Portuguese coach, only 38 years old, will be in the next round of the Europa League after eliminating Arsenal.
Benfica fan, Sporting idol
Amorim does not deceive anyone, it has always been with the truth first. “A coach must have all the doors open, but it is preferable to be honest. If I am going to coach a direct rival of Benfica, I prefer people to say ‘he is from Benfica, but he is professional’ than to say that it is a rumor,” he says. the new coach of the ‘red devils’.
If I’m going to coach a direct rival of Benfica, I’d rather people say ‘he’s from Benfica, but he’s professional’ than saying it’s a rumor
Ruben Amorim
It hasn’t gone bad. With that philosophy he has also managed to become an idol of Sporting. It is not for less. He arrived at a club in crisis (sporting and institutional) and, in four and a half years, he has won two Leagues – with the first ending a 19-year drought -, two League Cups and a Super Cup. It has also left a new League title on track: the ‘lions’ are leaders with six points ahead of Porto.
Amorim hugs Harder at his farewell to Sporting.EFE
A Taliban of the three central
Amorim’s first eleven at United is a mystery. It would be surprising, however, if he did not bet, although he does not have the same profiles, on the 1-3-4-2-1, to which he has remained faithful at Sporting. A system that, however, has been evolving. At first it was much more rigid and then it gained versatility: the centre-backs acted as full-backs, the full-backs dressed as wingers, it opted for two strikers…
In his beginnings, at Sporting, he opted to sign Paulinho, whom he knew from Braga. He was a striker with a more tactical role: set pieces, playing with his back… However, he realized that the team had certain shortcomings and opted to incorporate a more aggressive forward, who breaks into space… Hence the signing of Gyökeres.
The eleven type of Amorim this course.Footmod
An intervention coach
On the band he is not Jorge Jesús, who travels 10 kilometers per game, nor is he one of those who spends all his time sitting down. “The years with him had a big impact on me. I think I will be harsh, in the sense of annoying, but I will not be like Mr. Jorge Jesus,” he stated at the beginning. He likes to dialogue, give instructions… and be an interventionist, above all, with changes. It is (very) rare to have a game in which all five substitutions are not used up.
The years with him marked me a lot. “I think I will be harsh, in the sense of annoying, but I will not be like Mr. Jorge Jesus.”
Ruben Amorim
He has turned it almost into a dogma of faith. It is very common, in fact, to see him make two changes at the same time. Also, to a large extent, because he is extremely cautious with players already cautioned. He doesn’t like taking risks.
A great manager… very demanding in the physical area
Amorim is very much one of his own. Paulinho, Trincao, Palhinha and Esgaio – he had had them at Braga – ended up playing for Sporting CP. Furthermore, already in Lisbon, he formed a ‘hard core’ around Adam and Coates.
“People give a lot of importance to physicality and tactics, but you have to know how to manage the group. I give a lot of importance to the connection with the players, trying to make them always happy so that they perform well. Sometimes tactics and physicality are secondary,” he acknowledges. That does not prevent him from having, in turn, a heavy hand: he removed Jesé before his first training session with Sporting and did not mind doing without a legend like Joao Mário.
Sometimes tactics and physicality are secondary, you have to know how to manage the group
Ruben Amorim
Amorim seeks to be dominant, but is not obsessed with possession. In fact, it is very demanding physically. It places a lot of emphasis on the physical plot. Hence also why it usually exhausts all five changes. Take great care, even the small details. In the lineups, it takes into account, for example, the height of the team based on the rival to protect itself during set pieces.
Very perfectionist
Amorim defines himself as a “perfectionist” coach, with a “high level of demand.” “Mourinho taught me that you can win anything,” says the now Manchester United coach.
It is not the first time they have compared them. “I remember him as an intelligent, elegant and committed player. Always attentive to his teammates. The way his teams play requires a high degree of discipline. He has a work ethic similar to that of Mourinho. Only time will tell if he reaches his place, but understand the current player,” suggested Quique Sánchez Flores, former Amorim coach, in ‘The Sun’.
Time will tell if he reaches his place, but he has a similar work ethic to Mourinho.
Quique Sánchez Flores
“He is more daring than Mourinho in attack. When he has the ball, he likes to keep it. Mourinho is more of a counterattacker, holding back and coming out… He is very intelligent. He was a footballer and tries to transfer his ideas to the field. He has a tremendous future. He will be a great coach,” predicted Antonio Adán in ‘As’.
He is more daring than Mourinho in attack. When he has the ball, he likes to keep it
Antonio Adam
“He is a coach with clear ideas and incredible ambition, a winner. That is fundamental. He can achieve whatever he wants. Personally we have a very good relationship. Tactically he works very well in games. He played football for many years and has very good concepts “Pablo Sarabia told MARCA.
He is a coach with clear ideas and incredible ambition, a winner. You can get whatever you want
Pablo Sarabia
Manchester United’s present and recent past do not exactly invite optimism… but Amorim’s future does. We’ll see how he does at Old Trafford.
