The making of Rúben Amorim and why he is a fit for Man United

It could be considered one of the hardest jobs in football by now: managing Manchester United. Rúben Amorim is the sixth permanent manager appointed by United since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Young, promising and determined, Amorim has a major challenge in front of him: bringing back United’s glory days while creating a new identity for the club.

So, who is Rúben Amorim? And how have his playing days and previous managerial experience influenced him?

Amorim’s playing career

chart ruben amorims honours as a player

At the end of 2003, 18-year-old Amorim made his debut for Belenenses. After five seasons in the Primeira Liga, he moved to Benfica in 2008. His return to the club he had played for as a youngster, brought him his first major trophy, the league cup. The Portuguese league was added the following season. With the midfielder playing 1,366 minutes across 24 league matches, scoring three goals and assisting another two.1

However, a knee injury requiring surgery limited his playing time (18 matches) during the 2010/11 season. When his playing time remained limited in 2011/12, Amorim publicly criticised manager Jorge Jesus. It resulted in him leaving on loan to Braga in January 2012.

Rúben Amorim’s playing career [1]

Where When League matches League goals League (seasons) Honours (number of titles)
Belenenses 03/04 – 07/08 96 4 Primeira Liga (5)
Benfica 08/09 – 11/12 68 5 Primeira Liga (3.5) League (1), league cup (4)
Braga (loan) 11/12 – 12/13 30 4 Primeira Liga (1.5) League cup (1)
Benfica 13/14 – 14/15 27 0 Primeira Liga (2) League (2), cup (1), league cup (2), supercup (1)
AL-Wakrah (loan) 15/16 10 1 Qatar Stars League (1)

At Braga, the club he would later also manage, Amorim played a total of 46 matches and won the league cup. His return to Benfica brought him even more silverware. During the 2013/14 season, Benfica won the domestic treble, while reaching the Europa League final. Amorim played 37 matches across five competitions. In the league, his contributions were limited with four starts in 17 matches. However, in the Europa League Amorim played seven out of nine matches. Including 120 minutes as defensive midfielder in the lost final against Sevilla.

ruben amorim playing for portugal in 2013
Fanny Schertzer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

At the beginning of 2014/15, after winning the supercup, Amorim tore his ACL. Upon his return, he only played a further 95 minutes for Benfica’s first team. He left on loan to Al-Wakrah (Qatar) where he played 10 matches. Before officially retiring in April 2017, after a year of inactivity.

During his 13-year career, Amorim earned 14 caps (536 minutes) for Portugal. He made his debut at the 2010 World Cup, playing five minutes during the 0-0 opener against Ivory Coast. It took over two years before he earned his second cap in 2012. At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he played his final game for Portugal in a 2-1 group win over Ghana.

Amorim’s management career

ruben amorim
Agencia LUSA, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Amorim started his management career (unofficially) at Casa Pia in July 2018. He implemented a 3-4-3 formation, one he still uses, with success. The club won promotion from the third tier at the end of the season. However, Amorim had left his post in January in the fallout of being sanctioned for not possessing the necessary coaching qualifications.

During the 2019/20 season, Amorim started working at Braga B. When the club dismissed first team manager Ricardo Sá Pinto, they promoted him and with success. After only a month in charge, Braga won the league cup by beating Porto (1-0).

He once again implemented his 3-4-3 formation. Defensively Braga improved from conceding 1.2 goals per league match to 0.9 during his time in charge. While offensive output increased from 1.1 goals per league game to 2.4.

Sporting’s gamble

chart ruben amorims points per match as a manager

The turnaround, including a winning percentage of 89 percent in the league, did not go unnoticed. In March 2020, Sporting decided to pay €10 million in compensation for Amorim, who had less than a season of management experience at that point.

Rúben Amorim’s managerial career [3]

Where Tier When Total matches League matches League win percentage Honours (number of titles)
Casa Pia Third 7/2018 – 1/2019 20 16 63%
Braga First 12/2019 – 3/2020 13 9 89% League cup (1)
Sporting First 3/2020 – 11/2024 231 158 77% League (2), League cup (2), Supercup (1)

After winning his first match in charge, the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It gave Amorim time to work with the team and implement his ideas. When the season resumed in June, Sporting lost only two of the remaining 10 league games.

The 2020/21 season became Amorim’s first full season at Sporting and in football management. His work and ideas resulted in the club winning their first league title in 19 years (2001/02), losing only one game. Sporting scored on average 1.9 goals per league game, while conceding 0.6. In two third of their league matches, they scored at least twice. While they kept a clean sheet 59 percent of their league games.

By winning the league again in 2023/24 and winning two league cups (2020/21 and 2021/22) and a supercup (2021), Amorim brought trophies to Sporting. He also implemented a clear identity with his formation and playing style. It resulted in Amorim being chosen as Primeira Liga’s manager of the season in 2020/21 and 2023/24.

3 at the back

3-4-3 formationA key element of Amorim’s football vision is his use of three at the back, often in a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 formation. It has already brought him many successes while playing attractive football. However, by coming in midseason at United, not all players have the right profile for such a system.

So, Amorim will have to adapt to make it work. Even though ‘it is the same thing playing with five or four,’ according to him. ‘The principles are the same. The positioning is a little bit different.’2

Tough calls

Amorim is not afraid to make risky decisions and though calls. He did so at Casa Pia after losing the first two games. Saying he would stop if they lost the third as well. They did not and went on to win six consecutive games.3 He also decided to implement a new formation at Sporting midseason. Like what he has now done at United.

During his first United conference he explained how he believes a manager must ‘choose one way or another. I always choose 100 per cent, our way.’ Before adding, ‘I prefer to risk a little bit but to push from the first moment.’2

The ability to make risky choices he believes in, is thus one of his traits. Something he also showed by dropping Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho for the Manchester derby in December. Not hiding behind injuries, but saying it was ‘simple selection.’ Neither done to send a message, but just his vision of what is best for the team. With the decision reminding former United player Michael Owen of Ferguson.

Expected goals

In Amorim’s first five Premier League matches in charge, the results were mixed though. He started out with a draw at Ipswich. A match United should have lost based on expected goals (0.8 vs 1.59).4 Everton was then beaten, before two losses. And while they were outscored significantly in expected goals against Arsenal, they had the better expected goal tally against Nottingham Forest (1.6 vs 0.83) despite losing.

Based on expected goals (2.08 vs 0.95), they deservedly beat Manchester City with two late goals. A moral boost and important as winning is essential at a club like United. It is something Amorim acknowledges, despite believing implementing his ideas and style will take time2.

Rúben Amorim’s first five Premier League matches for Manchester United [4]

Opponent Result Goals scored (xG) Goals conceded (xG)
Ipswich (a) Draw 1 (0.8) 1 (1.59)
Everton (h) Win 4 (1.07) 0 (0.58)
Arsenal (a) Loss 0 (0.22) 2 (2.16)
Nottingham Forest (h) Loss 2 (1.6) 3 (0.83)
Manchester City (a) Win 2 (2.08) 1 (0.95)

Experience

chart age and experience of manchester united last seven managers

Despite his rapid rise, successes and a recognisable, attractive playing style, Amorim is a risky choice. Especially considering United paid £11 million for him and five staff members, while paying £10.4 million in compensation to Erik ten Hag and his staff.

Amongst the last seven United managers (at least five games in charge), Amorim was the youngest and had the least management experience at the time of appointment. With his 39 years, he was six years younger than Ole Gunnar Solskjær. While his 264 matches in charge across three clubs also ranks him last.

Like his predecessor ten Hag, Amorim had no experience in the Big Five leagues. Solskjær had relatively little head coach experience as well, but he had the advantage of knowing United. Having played for the club for 11 years and having been a forward and reserve coach.

Since Ferguson left, United have tried different types of managers. None have met the high expectations though. Despite Amorim’s limited experience, he might be exactly what United need under the new ownership structure. Hopefully, Amorim’s believe in his vision and system will bring the same of what it brought at Braga and Sporting: a clear new identity and better days for United fans.