Following the sacking of Erik ten Hag on Monday, Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim is set to be named as the new Manchester United boss.
Ten Hag guided the Red Devils to three cup finals in two years, winning the EFL Cup in 2022-23 before defeating Manchester City in the 2023-24 FA Cup final.
However, United have taken just 11 points from a possible 29 this season, leaving them 14th in the Premier League table after nine games.
The club’s hierarchy had continued to back the manager throughout tough times, but they finally ran out of patience and were left with no choice but to part ways with ten Hag.
So, who is Ruben Amorim? What will he bring to Old Trafford? And does he have what it takes to finally take Man Utd back among the Premier League’s elite?
Amorim called time on his playing career in 2017, having made over 100 appearances for Benfica and 14 appearances for Portugal.
He began his coaching career at Casa Pia in 2018 before moving to Braga B and then Braga in 2019, guiding the first team to the 2020 Taca da Liga title.
In March 2020, Amorim joined Sporting in a deal with €10 million, which made him the third-most expensive manager in the history of football.
During his first season in Lisbon, Amorim guided Sporting to a Primeira Liga-Taca da Liga double before defending the Taca da Liga title in 2021-22.
In 2023-24, the highly-rated coach led Sporting to another top-flight triumph, securing a second Primeira Liga title in four seasons.
At the time of writing, Sporting sit at the summit of the Portuguese top flight with a 100% record after nine games, having scored 30 goals and conceded just two.
The 39-year-old boasts a hugely impressive 71.85% win ratio at Sporting, having won 171 of his 238 matches in charge.
His team has scored 517 goals (2.2 goals per game) while conceding 195, indicating that his coaching style is suited to both attacking and defensive football.
Amorim is known for favouring a 3-4-2-1 formation, which includes three centre-backs, two wing-backs and two playmakers behind a lone striker.
The innovative manager likes he players to interchange and make life difficult for opposing defenders, creating space for the wing-backs and attackers.
Of course, Man Utd’s squad is stacked with high-level players, but it may take some time for the new coach’s methods to work.
But will Amorim be given time at Old Trafford? Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, United have employed five permanent managers and four interim bosses.
David Moyes was only given one season, while Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho were given just two seasons before being fired.
In recent times, we have seen managers like Liverpool’s Arne Slot and Aston Villa’s Unai Emery make an instant impact in the Premier League.
Everyone connected with Manchester United will be hoping that Amorim can make a similar impact. Otherwise, the club could be set for even longer in the doldrums.