Manchester United have reportedly identified Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim as an alternative option to Brendan Rodgers following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal.
What’s the story?
According to The Telegraph’s Jason Burt, the highly-rated 36-year-old is one of several potential candidates identified to fill the vacancy at Old Trafford.
He tweeted an update on the search for Solskjaer’s successor, writing: “Includes a new name being put forward: Sporting coach Ruben Amorim.”
Rodgers was believed to be the frontrunner to take over the United hot seat prior to Solskjaer’s dismissal, but Amorim has since emerged as an exciting alternative.
Man Utd could find ideal Rodgers alternative
Appointing Amorim would represent a huge risk for the Red Devils’ hierarchy, given his lack of experience, but the Portuguese tactician has quickly established himself as one of the most intriguing young coaches in the modern era.
After a brief 13-game spell in charge of SC Braga between December 2019 and March 2020, the retired centre-back earned a move to Primeira Liga giants Sporting.
Would Amorim be a good appointment?
Yes, definitely!
No way!
In his maiden campaign at the helm of the capital club, Amorim guided the Verde e Brancos to their first top-flight title since 2002, suffering just one defeat in their 34-league fixtures, breaking Benfica and Porto’s duopoly in emphatic fashion.
With a record of 66 victories from his 89 games in the managerial dugout giving him a win percentage of 74%, it’s easy to understand why the young tactician is so highly thought of.
And his style of play perfectly lends itself to becoming the next manager to take United forward and build on the good work that Solskjaer has left behind.
A report from Total Football Analysis illustrates how Amorim favours a 3-4-3 system with a lot of fluid movement in the attacking phase, positional play and counter-pressing with lots of vertical passes in the build-up phase.
Therefore, his modern, forward-thinking approach would make for an exciting if risky appointment, but one that the Glazers should carefully consider if they want to compete with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool for football’s top prizes.
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