The parallels are evident, and Manchester United have undoubtedly pondered them. Few managers take over a club during a season when everything is going smoothly, but even by the industry's low standards, Rúben Amorim's arrival at Sporting in March 2020 was remarkable. The Lisbon giants were in a dire state. Fourth in the Primeira Liga, 20 points behind leaders Porto, they had already cycled through four managers that season, and their last title win in 2001-02 seemed like a distant memory. Sporting was still reeling from the infamous training ground attack in May 2018, where 50 hooligans, enraged by poor results, stormed the premises to assault players and staff. The relationship between the board and fans was abysmal. Oh, and a little thing called Covid-19 was on the horizon.
What Amorim accomplished next, in the short, medium, and long term, propelled Sporting back to the pinnacle of Portuguese football and established him as one of Europe's brightest young managers. This has positioned him to potentially replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, a club currently mired in chronic struggles. The 39-year-old coach is unlikely to decline the opportunity, even if it means leaving a team that has won all nine of their league matches this season and believes they can secure a third title under his leadership. Sporting is also performing well in the Champions League, having collected seven points from a possible nine.
Sporting's appointment of Amorim was a gamble, but the positive aspect for United is that the sample size of his capabilities is now significantly larger than it was then. At that time, the former Portugal midfielder's CV showed only two months of top-flight managerial experience, albeit impressive ones with Braga. His league record stood at: P9 W8 D1. He won the Taça da Liga, the Portuguese league cup. Prior to that, he had honed his coaching skills at the third-tier side Casa Pia before moving to Braga B and eventually the first team. The Sporting president, Frederico Varandas, and the sporting director, Hugo Viana, took a deep breath and activated Amorim's €10m release clause.
For United, this could be the most significant managerial appointment since they turned to Alex Ferguson in 1986 when the team languished in 19th place in the old First Division. What appeals to them about Amorim goes beyond his headline achievements at Sporting – the sensational title triumph in his first full season, followed by another last time out; the two Taça da Liga successes; the run to the Champions League last 16 in 2021-22. Amorim has built his reputation on his man-management skills, his ability to connect with players, to be close to them without overstepping boundaries. He knows when to be a friend and when to be the demanding boss. If he needs to put any member of the dressing room in their place, he does so effortlessly and without hesitation.
Amorim's authority stems from his strong personality, his charisma, and the simplicity of his messages. He knows what he wants. At Sporting, he quickly settled on a 3-4-3 formation, which he tweaked but never abandoned, and he has always emphasized that he does not want to overload players with too much tactical detail. Clarity and consistency are his watchwords, fostering trust. His approach is to practice specifics repeatedly.
Amorim's communication skills extend to handling the media, a crucial part of the job, whether managers like it or not. Ten Hag often gave the impression he would rather be anywhere else than at a press conference, whereas Amorim is known in Portugal for his savvy in this area, being open and natural. One unknown factor is how Amorim would cope in his non-native language. His English is described as 'OK' and 'good' by those who know him, and he speaks the language with some Sporting players. However, conveying his thoughts in front of cameras and notebooks is another matter.
How would Amorim manage United's high-profile players? He has limited experience with this at Sporting. His fellow Portuguese and former Sporting player Bruno Fernandes could be an ally. Although Amorim did not overlap with Fernandes, who left for Old Trafford in January 2020, Amorim's agent, Raúl Costa, has started working with Fernandes's agent, Miguel Pinho, suggesting a connection. It is hard to imagine Amorim has not spoken to Fernandes.
Amorim would need to adapt to a different management structure. At Sporting, it has been him and Viana, a former Braga and Portugal teammate. Their close relationship has been pivotal to Sporting's success. At United, Amorim would need to build new bonds with executives Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth, and Jason Wilcox. Viana will leave Sporting at the end of the season to become the director of football at Manchester City, which could signal the end of an era at Sporting. Amorim again has a €10m release clause, and a suitor is ready to pay it.
When Amorim joined Sporting, he navigated the pandemic-enforced shutdown and delayed season, gradually establishing himself and making judgments on players, including those from the academy. He is passionate about promoting young talent. Amorim's move last summer was to initiate a squad overhaul, part of a reset that would lead to glory. He has a proven template. His methods have worked before. Manchester United presents a whole new challenge.
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