WHEN a 35-year-old Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”.
Sporting ended that 2019/20 campaign in fourth, 22 points off champions Porto with Amorim their third manager in seven months.
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Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
After his early retirement as a player at the age of 32, Amorim would spend his time at the Faculty of Human Kinetics at University of Lisbon, listening to lectures held by Jose himself.
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Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
Amorim knew the great man more than most thanks to his brother-in-law Antero Henrique – a former Porto communications director who worked with Jose during his ‘Special One’ years at the Estadio do Dragao where he lifted the Champions League in 2004.
Ironically, Henrique was also targeted by United as a sporting director before switching their attention to Dan Ashworth – a man who normally gets it right when it comes to recruiting managers.
But Ashworth should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
Amorim is described as a “master trash-talker” in press conferences – a genius in getting his message across, creating a narrative while deflecting pressure away from his players.
As one source told SunSport: “There is no one like him.”
There is an admirable arrogance within him, backed up by his early success, including becoming one of the most expensive managers in history after his £8.65m move from Braga to Sporting.
This summer, his agents were reluctant to ship out his CV to top clubs, insisting: “You don’t need one when you’ve won two titles.”
He then demands the final say over footballing decisions when taking charge at a club.
After retiring, he was offered a role with Benfica’s B team – having made 150 appearances for the club over seven years – but opted for Braga instead, where he would have more control.
On his first day at Sporting, he showed the dressing room his preferred formation of 3-4-3 and told them they needed to fit into that system or risk not playing.
Vasco Seabra, former head coach of Sporting’s rivals Estoril, said: “Amorim is always trying to improve his players.
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“He works with young talent but also with experienced players as well and what they all have in common is that they fight. They are really intense.
“The players connect with him easily.”
When in talks with both West Ham and Liverpool this calendar year, he requested a full revamp of the coaching staff, wanting to bring his huge eight-man team with him.
His stubbornness over his back three has sometimes cost him jobs, with Anfield bosses unwilling to rip up their entire defensive unit to accommodate him.
Amorim is not afraid to take on big egos and bad eggs, especially during his infamously tough training sessions at Sporting.
During one session in April 2022, he sent ex-Leicester striker Islam Slimani home early for a lack of involvement and commitment.
Three months later, Slimani was sold.
But there is also a warm side to him, a humble side that Jose severely lacks.
After flying to London to speak to West Ham back in April, he subsequently apologised to the fans.
And unsurprisingly, he was welcomed back with open, loving arms, such is the relationship and trust he builds with his players.
Vitor Campelos, head coach of Portuguese top-division side AVS, said: “He is the kind of coach who likes to bet on young players.”
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There is no shock then that Manchester City had been teeing up Amorim to be Pep Guardiola’s natural replacement after Sporting’s director of football, Hugo Viana, was named as the successor to Txiki Begiristain at the Etihad.
And for all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face that City have no answer for.
‘I was expecting this’ – What Ruben Amorim said about Man Utd job links
RUBEN AMORIM has responded to being linked with a move to Manchester United.
The Sporting Lisbon coach, 39, is reportedly closing in on a deal worth £8million to become Erik ten Hag’s successor.
Just hours after Ten Hag’s dismissed on Monday morning, it emerged Man Utd chiefs were in talks with Amorim as they zero in on the Sporting boss.
But the ex-Braga coach remained tight-lipped on negotiations when quizzed by the media.
He said: “I was already expecting this question [about Man Utd].
“Obviously I’m not going to talk about the future, because otherwise I’ll always have to comment.
“I’m very proud to be Sporting coach, that’s all.”
