MANCHESTER, England (AFP) — Manchester United opened a new chapter on Monday with the arrival of Ruben Amorim, who takes on the challenge of reviving the club’s prestigious heritage.
The Portuguese tactician bid a memorable farewell to Sporting Lisbon, orchestrating a thrilling 4-2 comeback win at Braga, marking his eleventh consecutive league victory.
There is a palpable atmosphere of relief in Manchester after three wins in four matches in all competitions under caretaker coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took the reins following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag.
However, Amorim is fully aware of the important task ahead of him as United languish in 13th place in the Premier League table, having managed just four wins from their opening eleven matches.
The club officially welcomed him into their training center on Monday afternoon, shortly after confirming Van Nistelrooy’s departure.
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Historically, Manchester United hold a record 20 English titles, but have struggled to keep pace in the Premier League and Champions League since the retirement of Alex Ferguson in 2013.
Amorim, a 39-year-old former Portugal international, is the sixth permanent manager appointed since the end of Ferguson’s celebrated 27-year reign.
His predecessors—David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Ten Hag—all faced similar difficulties in returning United to glory, despite considerable financial outlay.
During Ten Hag’s tenure, more than £600 million was spent on new talent, but the return on investment was often disappointing.
Despite the squad’s current shortcomings, Amorim inherits a deeper talent pool than during his time at Sporting, although extracting the best performance from an underwhelming squad will require considerable dedication.
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Being considered the choice of British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe—who recently became a minority owner and took charge of football operations—Amorim should be given some leeway and time to implement his vision. However, he must be aware that patience in such a legendary club has its limits.
“I feel ready for this new challenge,” said an optimistic Amorim after his last match at Sporting. “I understand it will be very different and exceptionally challenging, but I truly believe I am ready for it.”
Two trophies in two full seasons were not enough to save Erik ten Hag, whose squad never found its rhythm this season.
While the Dutchman led impressive victories against FC Barcelona, Liverpool and Manchester City, the team’s style of play often relied on individual brilliance rather than a cohesive game plan.
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During his tenure, United often looked disjointed—exhibiting both alarming defensive weaknesses and difficulty finding the net—leading to frustrating and unpredictable performances.
Amorim earned his stripes in the Premier League by guiding Sporting to the pinnacle of Portuguese football over the past four and a half years.
His favored 3-4-3 formation could well suit the talent available at Old Trafford, although Amorim will have little time to instill his footballing philosophy as United prepare for a demanding 12-match run from November 24-5 January after the international break.
“I know how I’m going to start approaching the game, starting with a familiar structure and then adjusting to match the players’ strengths,” Amorim said.
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With supporters accustomed to success feeling the bitterness of the club’s fall—usurped by Manchester City and Liverpool—Old Trafford lost its intimidation.
Notably, Liverpool and Tottenham inflicted 3-0 defeats in September, while Brighton, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Fulham came away with three points last season.
Amorim’s challenge will be to revitalize the supporters at Old Trafford, instilling in them the belief that better days are ahead.
Despite their position in the bottom half of the Premier League, United are just four points away from regaining a place in the top 4—a position that would guarantee a return to the Champions League.
Midfielder Casemiro highlighted the team’s eagerness to learn under their new coach: “We cannot ignore the transformation he has achieved at Sporting Lisbon. We are aware of the number of titles he has won “They won and the impact he has had on the club through the trophies. He has undoubtedly proven himself to be a successful manager.”
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