Ruben Amorim is poised to transition from Portugal to the Premier League, emerging as a leading candidate to succeed Erik ten Hag at Manchester United following the latter's dismissal. Amorim's current club, Sporting Lisbon, has confirmed Manchester United's interest and that negotiations are underway.
Sporting Lisbon has stated that Manchester United will activate Amorim's €10 million release clause, facilitating his departure. A delegation from United is expected to travel to Lisbon to finalize the agreement after Sporting's Portuguese cup quarter-final match against Nacional on Tuesday evening.
At 39 years old, Amorim is two years younger than Jose Mourinho was when he left Porto for Chelsea, a club that would go on to dominate English football. While several Portuguese coaches have made high-profile moves, not all have met expectations; for instance, Andre Villas-Boas struggled to replicate Mourinho's success after moving from Porto to Chelsea in 2011.
Amorim, who was previously linked to the managerial position at Liverpool, has garnered attention for his potential, reminiscent of Mourinho's self-proclaimed greatness in 2004. In 2017, Amorim expressed his aspirations to become a coach, stating, “I don’t know if I am going to be good or bad, but that is what I am going to be.”
Having ended his playing career at 32 due to injuries, Amorim built his coaching reputation at Sporting Lisbon, where he had previously played for Benfica, the club he has supported since childhood. He noted, “I can see myself coaching Benfica, or one of the world’s biggest clubs. Obviously only time will tell and you need so much luck.”
Amorim began his playing career at Belenenses and later joined Benfica, where he played primarily as a right-back. His career included a domestic treble with Benfica and a Europa League final appearance. However, injuries hindered his progress, leading to a loan at Braga before he returned to Benfica.
Amorim has cited Mourinho as an influence, but he credits Jorge Jesus, his coach for seven years, as having the most significant impact on his coaching style. He described Jesus as a perfectionist, stating, “What I demand of players is quite similar to him.”
Beginning his coaching journey at the age of 33 in 2018, Amorim quickly rose through the ranks, winning the third-tier title with Casa Pia before moving to Braga, where he led the first team to success. His impressive performance at Braga caught the attention of Sporting, who paid his release clause.
Amorim's tenure at Sporting has been marked by significant achievements, including winning the Portuguese title in his first full season and advancing to the Champions League last 16. He secured a second league title last season, with players like Marcus Edwards and Viktor Gyokeres thriving under his management.
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