What will Ruben Amorim bring to Manchester United?

Ruben Amorim has been appointed as Manchester United’s new head coach, following Erik Ten Hag’s sacking.

The 39-year-old will officially begin work on November 11, 2024.

He is the sixth permanent manager United have appointed since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.

In a statement, the club said:

“Ruben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football.”

Across a four-year spell at Sporting CP, Amorim won two Portuguese league titles and two league cups.

One of Ten Hag’s biggest problems at United was his apparent inability to implement a clear style of play.

With Amorim, he has a clear identity so what will he bring to Manchester United?

Tactical Innovation

Ruben Amorim is known for his adaptability, which would resonate well with United’s need for tactical variety in the Premier League.

At Sporting, he has often favoured a 3-4-3 formation which is built on high possession and strategic flexibility.

Focusing on positional play, Amorim’s players maintain width through high-pressing wingbacks, effectively stretching the opposition and allowing for intricate play in central areas.

This formation can morph into a 3-4-2-1, adapting to both patient buildup and fast counter-attacks.

Amorim’s tactical adaptability has allowed him to maximise his squad’s strengths. He notably adjusted his game plan around his latest star striker, Viktor Gyokeres, to emphasise more direct attacking sequences.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is a fan:

“I think all the qualities are there to be able to succeed in English, French, or Spanish football.”

“Obviously, we know that the Premier League is probably the most desired. The qualities [to succeed in England] are there and he has everything to take the next step, in my opinion.”

Amorim’s teams demonstrate an impressive balance between attack and defence, ranking near the top of European clubs in chance creation and defensive solidity.

These strengths should translate well to the Premier League, where Amorim’s structural discipline and high-pressing philosophy could significantly improve United’s recent struggles with defensive stability.

Defensive Solidarity

Ruben Amorim has a disciplined defensive approach where his teams maintain compact formations that restrict opposing teams’ chances.

His Sporting side has been very efficient in preventing scoring opportunities and quickly regaining possession.

This defensive solidarity could give Manchester United the foundation to compete more consistently in domestic and European competitions.

Under Amorim, Sporting’s defensive structure is bolstered by an aggressive, proactive pressing system that frequently forces turnovers high up the field.

By focusing on forward pressing, he ensures his team stays compact, enabling quick recovery after turnovers.

Amorim’s tactical approach could help restore defensive stability for United, a team currently facing challenges with transitional defending.

Developing Youth

Throughout Amorim’s managerial career, he has had a proven track record with youth players.

Renowned for nurturing young talent, Amorim has integrated several high-potential players into Sporting’s first team, such as Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Nunes, and Nuno Mendes, with the latter two now playing for Manchester City and PSG, respectively.

Manchester United have long been promoting their academy players, aligning with Amorim’s focus on development.

His appointment potentially creates a sustainable pathway for United’s academy graduates.

Bruno Fernandes departed Sporting shortly before Amorim’s appointment.

However, players like Manuel Ugarte, Matheus Nunes, Pedro Porro and Joao Palhinha are familiar with his management style and were part of his 2020/21 title-winning side.

Ugarte now plays for United so he will know what Amorim demands when he arrives at the club.

The success of these players underscores Amorim’s knack for developing adaptable and commercially valuable talent.

His arrival at United could thus invigorate the club’s youth policy, especially as he’s likely to embrace and enhance the club’s robust academy setup.

So it is possible that the likes of Harry Amass might be incorporated into the starting 11 more.

A Thriving Ugarte

At Sporting, Manuel Ugarte shone under Amorim, going from squad player to key figure in two seasons before his £50 million move to PSG.

After a mixed start at United, the familiarity of his former boss could help.

Ugarte still needs to adapt to the Premier League’s demands but Amorim knows how to get the best out of him.

He allowed Ugarte to play to his strengths, which is to win the ball back.

In the 2022/23 season, Ugarte ranked sixth among Sporting players for passes per 90 minutes.

But it was his defensive work that stood out. The Uruguay international’s 121 tackles were the highest in Portugal and the fourth-highest across Europe’s major leagues.

Ugarte’s ball-winning ability was used to protect Sporting’s defence but it was also utilised further forward.

While mostly a defensive midfielder, Ugarte was key to the effectiveness of Sporting’s high-press that season, winning possession in the final third 23 times, the highest total by any player in the league.

His understanding of Amorim’s off-the-ball approach could be helpful to the new boss.

The hope for United is that his relentless traits will complement the ball-playing ability of someone like Kobbie Mainoo.

Manchester United’s quick appointment of Ruben Amorim after Erik Ten Hag’s dismissal reflects a commitment to reinvigorate the team’s approach, culture and development framework.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will remain the interim manager for the club’s next three fixtures.

Amorim’s first fixture in charge of United is set to be on November 24 against Ipswich.

His first home game will be against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on November 28, followed by a league game against Everton.

United will announce who will be on Amorim’s coaching staff at a later date.

With a tactical focus on aggressive pressing and a high defensive line, it will be interesting to see this new era at Manchester United and whether the players can effectively take onboard Amorim’s philosophy.