Ruben Amorim to Manchester United: Tactical Analysis – Why United Wants The Portuguese as Their Next Boss

Rúben Amorim appears to be on the cusp of taking the reins as Manchester United’s next manager. Here, we delve into why he’s one of Europe’s most sought-after coaches.

When Manchester United spent part of the summer courting Thomas Tuchel, albeit quite openly, it was clear that Erik ten Hag would need a substantial turnaround to secure his position in the long term.

Though he managed to keep his job through pre-season, United’s leadership ultimately relieved the Dutchman of his duties on Monday, roughly two and a half years after luring him from Ajax. Some might argue he was fortunate to last as long as he did, but with that chapter closed, the club is wasting no time in moving forward.

While the decision on Ten Hag may have dragged on for months, United’s approach to finding a replacement appears far more swift and determined. Whether this signals real intent is yet to be seen, but United has already set its sights on Sporting CP’s head coach Rúben Amorim.

At 39, Amorim has been on the radar of several major clubs from top leagues in recent years. In 2024 alone, he was reportedly a candidate for managerial roles at Barcelona, Liverpool, and Chelsea, and he also engaged in talks with West Ham—a move he later called “a mistake”—before they hired Julen Lopetegui. Amorim has also been highly regarded as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, especially since City recently struck a deal to bring Sporting’s director of football, Hugo Viana, on board next year.

Yet it seems United may be the club to finally secure Amorim, with speculation suggesting he could be in place for the Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday.

So, what makes him the ideal choice?

Rúben Amorim’s Meteoric Start in Management

Amorim began his managerial career at the senior level as recently as December 2019. With Sporting Braga parting ways with Ricardo Sá Pinto, they promoted Amorim, then 34 and leading Braga’s B team, and the impact was immediate.

In his debut, Amorim’s team won 7-1 against Belenenses, setting the tone for Braga’s transformation. Braga quickly established itself as a force capable of challenging anyone in Portuguese football. From mid-January to mid-February, Braga faced Porto and Sporting twice each, and Benfica once—an intense lineup of the country’s toughest fixtures. Remarkably, Braga won all five games, including the Taça da Liga final against Porto, giving Amorim his first silverware just over a month into his senior management journey.

This rapid success drew widespread attention, and by early March 2020, Sporting Lisbon made a decisive move, paying a staggering €10 million release clause—then the third-highest fee ever for a manager. While the decision raised eyebrows, particularly as Sporting had gone through three managers that season, the gamble on Amorim proved inspired.

To fully grasp the transformation Amorim achieved, it’s essential to consider Sporting’s position at the time of his hiring. Investing heavily in such an inexperienced coach was undeniably risky, but after years of underperformance, it’s clear why Sporting felt compelled to make a bold move.

When Amorim arrived at Estádio José Alvalade in March 2020, Sporting was nearing an 18-year drought without a Primeira Liga title. They had only twice secured second place since 2009 and would close that season outside the top three for just the fourth time this century.

Yet, by the end of his first full season (2020-21), Amorim had led Sporting to their long-awaited Primeira Liga victory, nearly completing an unbeaten campaign. Their only loss came against fierce rivals Benfica in a thrilling seven-goal match on the season’s penultimate day—but the title was already secured.

Although Sporting couldn’t defend the title the following season, finishing second behind a Porto team that dropped points only five times, they fell further in 2022-23, missing the top three entirely, sparking questions about Amorim’s future.

In 2023-24, however, Amorim led Sporting back to the top, clinching the title with a comfortable 10-point lead over Benfica. The club has started the 2024-25 season strong, winning all nine of their league matches so far.

For perspective, from the start of the 2015-16 season until Amorim’s arrival, Sporting’s Primeira Liga points total of 347 lagged behind Benfica and Porto’s 396 and 381, respectively. Since Amorim’s hiring, Sporting has amassed 382 points—seven more than Porto and 27 more than Benfica.

Naturally, Amorim hasn’t achieved this success single-handedly. Director of football Hugo Viana has earned praise for his contributions, though he assumed his role over two years before Amorim and had appointed several managers who ultimately didn’t succeed.

For most observers, however, it’s Amorim’s coaching skill, winning mentality, and charismatic leadership that have been the driving forces behind Sporting’s resurgence in Portuguese football. To say he will leave the club in a better position than he found it would be a considerable understatement.

Amorim’s Tactical Approach: How Will He Shape Manchester United’s Play?

Many United fans are likely wondering how Amorim would set up his team tactically. The answer depends largely on his approach upon arrival. Will he overhaul United’s current system entirely, or adapt his style based on the squad at hand? That remains to be seen, but we can analyze his previous tactics to get an idea of what he might bring to Old Trafford.

One defining feature of Amorim’s style is his preference for a back-three formation, a setup that United have rarely employed, especially under Ten Hag. Amorim typically deploys a 3-4-3 formation, often resembling a 3-4-2-1, where wing-backs provide width, while two attacking midfielders tuck in behind a lone striker. The midfield usually consists of two players, with one sitting deeper to stabilize the defense.

Another variation Amorim has used involves a midfield diamond, where the middle center-back plays a defensive midfield role, and a support striker operates at the top of the diamond. This allows for wingers to stretch the field while supporting the main striker, offering flexibility and offensive depth.

Though pragmatic, Amorim’s tactics aren’t necessarily defensive. His Sporting team often sets up in a low block against equally matched or stronger opponents, focusing on organized transitions and efficient passing. For example, in Primeira Liga matches against Porto, Benfica, and Braga, Sporting’s passing sequences start, on average, 41.3 meters from their own goal, compared to 45.9 meters against other teams.

Nevertheless, Amorim’s Sporting has maintained a proactive stance, allowing opponents an average of 10.9 passes before engaging in defensive action (PPDA) since the start of 2023-24, a more aggressive stat than United’s 12.6 PPDA over the same period. Additionally, Sporting has averaged 9.3 high turnovers per game, slightly outperforming United’s 8.8, highlighting Amorim’s inclination for an active, high-press system.

Amorim places a clear emphasis on maintaining possession when his team is on the ball. Since the beginning of last season, they’ve registered 173 build-up attacks—open-play sequences involving at least 10 passes that lead to a shot or a touch in the opposition’s box—in the Primeira Liga, which is 30 more than any other team.

Yet, Amorim wouldn’t be considered a possession purist who insists on holding the ball purely for control. He values a team that can also be dangerous on the break. Since the start of 2023-24, they’ve made 100 direct attacks—open-play sequences beginning in their own half, with at least 50% forward movement toward the opposition goal, ending in a shot or a touch in the box—18 more than any other team in the Primeira Liga.

This aspect of their game saw a significant boost last season, especially with Viktor Gyokeres’ arrival, adding a new layer of attacking dynamism.

Regardless of their attacking approach, Sporting emphasizes build-up play through the center. With an absolute width—representing the maximum distance from the pitch center per sequence—of 24.9 meters since last season, they are among the narrower teams in the Primeira Liga.

The center-backs are instrumental here, contributing both in distribution and advancing play by stepping forward. Among defenders with over 1,000 minutes in Portugal’s top flight since the beginning of 2023-24, Sporting’s Matheus Reis (12.6) and Gonçalo Inácio (13.9) lead in progressive carries per 90 minutes. Reis, Inácio, and teammate Ousmane Diomande all rank in the top six for total carry distance per 90. Inácio also averages more touches (99.3) per game than any other player in the league.

While their play is often central, Amorim’s Sporting skillfully utilizes wide areas when needed; they lead the league in chances created from both the right (219) and left (185) attacking thirds since last season’s start.

Critics may highlight that Ten Hag, too, arrived at United with an impressive record from a dominant club in a smaller league. Known as a skilled tactician with a clear playing philosophy, he struggled to instill a lasting identity at Old Trafford or bring consistent cohesion to the squad.

Managing United and adapting to the Premier League will be a vastly different challenge than coaching Sporting. However, Amorim brings a strong track record of developing young talent, improving players, and winning titles. His charisma, distinctive methods, and assertive personality make him an intriguing candidate.

On the surface, there’s ample reason for optimism, though similar sentiments surrounded Ten Hag’s appointment. United’s longstanding issues, however, run deeper than coaching alone; a structural transformation is needed for the club to operate seamlessly, a journey that will likely span years.

Assuming he takes the role, Amorim will enter a challenging landscape. Yet someone will eventually succeed where no coach since Sir Alex Ferguson has, bringing United back to the pinnacle of English football. Amorim’s progress to this point suggests he’s earned a chance to be that figure.

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