Manchester United Fans know the feeling all too well: optimism turning to despair, flashes of brilliance turning to inconsistency, high-profile signings that somehow just don’t seem to fit.
So when Erik ten Hag Because the team was deployed with the promise of tactical precision and discipline, hopes were high. But it quickly becomes clear that the chemistry the Dutch coach had hoped to ignite simply didn’t work.
Now United are on the alert again, and Reuben Amorimthe young and fiery manager of Sporting CP, is one of the frontrunners. Could he actually be the answer to turning United’s fortunes around?
Amorim’s rise in football management was meteoric. Just a few seasons ago he made a name for himself at Braga, earning praise for his aggressive, high-pressure style and his ability to motivate young, hungry players.
Sporting CP noticed, grabbed him and the results were almost immediate. Amorim led the club to its first Portuguese league title in almost two decades and made him a cult hero among fans. However, he didn’t just win – he changed Sporting’s style.
Amorim managed to combine old-school passion with modern tactical versatility, giving Sporting CP an identity that had been missing for years. That’s exactly the kind of energy Man United needs right now.
United’s problem is not just tactical; it’s almost spiritual. They are a club with a glorious past, but that past is often more of a burden than a source of inspiration. There’s this shadow of Sir Alex Fergusonthat almost mythical era of constant success that can be both an inspiration and a curse.
Amorim’s strength lies not only in his tactics, but also in his ability to rally a club behind a new vision. He has proven he can cope with clubs where the pressure is immense, where fans are desperate for a revival of glory and where there is more to change than just formations and line-ups.
Let’s also talk about the playing style. Amorim’s style is very “Next generation.” Unlike Ten Hag, which relies on the Dutch tradition of possession football, Amorim has developed a more dynamic, pressing-focused game that seems to be a perfect fit for the modern Premier League.
It’s fast, direct and requires a lot of energy – perfect for players like Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandesand even young breakout stars looking to impress. The philosophy turns around “Vertical football” The goal is to move the ball quickly from defense to attack with as few touches as possible.
It’s attractive, but more importantly, it’s aggressive. This is a strategy that could prevent United from getting bogged down in possession and allow them to play to their strengths on the counter-attack.
Amorim brings with it another intangible asset: fearlessness. He’s not the type to think about himself, which makes his decisions seem a little wild at times – but in a league where players are often micromanaged to the point of paralysis, that could be just what United need.
He is not afraid to put younger players in big games, a trait that could do wonders for United given their promising youth set-up. Imagine a few seasons later: a team with Rashford and Fernandes at their peak, along with rising stars being given plenty of playing time and trust, creating an intimidating mix of experience and young talent. This vision is something the Old Trafford faithful could support.
There are of course doubts. Amorim’s relative inexperience at Europe’s top level is a sticking point for some. Manage in the Portuguese League is not the same as dealing with the relentless pace and pressure of the Premier League.
Sporting is a big club, but not Manchester United – a global brand where every decision is under scrutiny and where there is always a lot at stake. But to be fair, Ten Hag had experience and it still hasn’t been translated. Perhaps what United need at the moment is not the security of experience but the bold energy of a manager who still feels he has everything to prove.
The reality is that hiring Amorim would be a gamble, but it could pay off in the end. He could light a fire at Old Trafford, shake up the team and introduce a mentality that says: “We don’t play to compete – we play to win.”
This is something fans would immediately support. United are a club in need of a change, something to break away from the revolving door of managers and the uninspired tactics they have tried in recent years. Amorim’s youth, his vision and his tireless approach could be exactly what they have been waiting for.