Erik ten Hag has been finally sacked by Manchester United and it looks like INEOS have already set the ball rolling in terms of the next Man United manager. The likes of Gareth Southgate, Xavi and Graham Potter have been linked with this high-profile job however, the major European journalists are claiming that Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim is the current favourite.
After the 2-1 loss to West Ham United, Man United wasted no time in getting rid of Ten Hag and for the time being, Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach.
Fabrizio Romano and others are claiming that Man United have already held talks with Ruben Amorim and the 39-year-old is very keen to take charge. Right now, the Red Devils are in talks with Sporting to try and get a deal done.
Ruben Amorim’s Managerial History:
Ruben Amorim started his managerial journey with Portuguese side Casa Pia AC in January 2018 but after just six months, he joined Braga’s B side in the summer of 2019.
The 39-year-old was quickly moved up the ladder as he took charge of the senior side in December 2019.
His impact with the Braga team was really positive because the very next season, he was appointed as the Sporting CP head coach and he’s been with the club ever since. Over the years, he has won one Super Cup and two Liga Portugal titles and in 227 games in charge, he has a PPG(points per game) of 2.27 which is absolutely insane.
Last season, Sporting won the league with a 10-point margin and this campaign, they are also sitting at the top of the table after nine matches.
Ruben Amorim – Style of Play:
Amorim’s preferred formation happens to be a 3-4-3 system with a possession-based brand of football. In this structure, Ruben Amorim urges his three centre-backs to break the first line through the middle of the pitch with every available opportunity.
In case of a low build-up, Ruben Amorim sets up with a 4-2-5 formation with the goalkeeper playing in between the centre-backs. When using a high build-up Sporting shifts to a 1-3-2-5 formation, almost similar to the low build-up style, only without the goalkeeper in the middle.
When playing out from the back, the Sporting defenders try to find their attacking midfielders in the pockets, where at least one of them will look to remain open. Whichever AM receives the ball, their job is to keep the ball at their feet and drive at the defence.
Another signature aspect of Sporting under Ruben Amorim is that they always try and look to switch play via a long diagonal which allows the winger to become activated instantly.
Under the 39-year-old, Sporting are one of the most intense pressing teams in Portugal and their three frontmen are always looking to press and close down the central spaces. This forces the opposition to play out wide and then it’s the job of the Sporting wingbacks to pin them down in the corners.
Ruben Amorim embodies the qualities of a true modern-day manager and much of his success is rooted in team play and cohesion rather than individual brilliance.
Can Ruben Amorim Succeed At Manchester United?
As we just said, for the 39-year-old’s plan and tactics to find success all 11 players will have to be in perfect sync. Without the full commitment, things are just not going to work.
And, keeping these Manchester United players on the same page will be a challenging task.
When Erik ten Hag came in at Old Trafford, he was a very tactical manager but over the years, he looked clueless about how to properly set up his team and make changes. Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjær faced similar challenges before him, so it’s fair to say that working with this group of players will demand considerable effort and patience.
Stats courtesy Transfermarkt
