The bold, perhaps necessary, move of Manchester United was to hire Rúben Amorim for the team up until 2027, with an option to renew. With the announcement now open in the team, following long and exhausting negotiations with Sporting, expectations couldn't be higher. After all, Amorim isn't just any coach. At the age of 38, he already has major titles in his pocket and an innate knack for rejuvenating potential but misdirected teams. United, on the other hand, seriously needs the man to lead it on that new path.
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He will make his debut on November 24 when United face Ipswich Town. Until then, the Portuguese coach remains on gardening leave from Sporting, which means assistant Ruud Van Nistelrooy will take charge of United for three games of real significance. However, even before Amorim steps into the Old Trafford dugout for the first time, excitement for this appointment is palpable.
Why Rúben Amorim?
Many would question themselves with the same question: why exactly did Manchester United hire Amorim to take over from Erik Ten Hag? Well, it begins with his work at Sporting. In less than six years as a coach, Rúben Amorim won the Portuguese league twice with Sporting, ending a 19-year title drought. Just that alone gives reason for what kind of impact he can bring. Amorim is a classic strategist, a coach who knows the game inside and out, seeking one thing above all else: an attractive, dynamic style of play, which has been missing lately from United.
Also in the official announcement, United didn't spare words on Amorim, mentioning his promising style and that he is one of the top-rated coaches in Europe. This is a big gamble for this English club-almost a way of saying, "We will invest in a bright future, not in some famous name."
Immediate Impact or Long-Term Build?
The hiring of a promising young coach may be an effort at a long-term solution on the surface of it all, but Man United needs results now. Amorim's job is finding that balance between each of those aspects: giving the team identity while building a strong foundation to bring United to the top. United has the roster, the reputation, the fans-but in recent years, the competitive drive that once made the club dominate England was missing.
The thing expected from Amorim-and very much to the point-is this formation of a "champion's mentality." His earlier work showed he could change a squad, and with the Red Devils, the stakes are even higher. Manchester United needs a team which plays as a giant, attacking with equal strength it defends, and above all, it has to make its fans fall in love.
The Legacy of Amorim
Rúben Amorim is one of the most promising names amongst European coaches, with a career that has gone from lightning to having conquered both fans and critics alike. After hanging up his cleats in 2016, he showed himself talented from the sidelines. Starting as an assistant at Casa Pia, later joining Braga's B team, until taking over the first team, and then of course, would be his history with Sporting.
Winning the Portuguese league with Sporting in his second season has shone the spotlight on Amorim. He pulled off what seemed impossible: uniting a group of players, making every single one of them perform better, and ending that long title drought. This ability-to motivate, organize, and strategize-is exactly what Manchester United seeks as it attempts to climb back toward the top of the Premier League.
For Amorim, the Premier League is a challenge, completely different from the Portuguese championship. The intensity, rhythm, and competitiveness of English football will demand preparation that is physical, mental, and tactical. And with a team in search of consistency, the expectations he will have to balance the results quickly. Although the most demanding league in the world, it may be the one which can consecrate his name and show himself up to the task.
Manchester United wants to go back to the top not only of the Premier League but also to a competitive level in European tournaments, which means that Amorim will have to adapt quickly and make strong decisions.