“My number two is Carlos Fernandes, he’s been my right-hand man right from day one. He’ll be a much better coach than me. I often say if I become Bobby Robson, then he’ll be my [Jose] Mourinho.”
It was just a passing comment, but few quotes better sum up the latest managerial superstar produced in Portugal, Ruben Amorim.
Amorim is poised to take over at Old TraffordGetty
The Sporting Lisbon coach has verbally agreed personal terms with Manchester United to succeed the sacked Erik ten Hag.
It completes a remarkable managerial merry-go-round considering Amorim once championed the Dutchman’s arrival at Old Trafford.
The pair were installed as options the Red Devils were considering to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November 2021.
Three days after the Norwegian had been shown the door, Amorim was grilled by Portuguese media over his plans ahead of Sporting’s 3-1 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund.
CNN Portugal quoted him as saying: “United? We’re talking about rumours, my future is clear. I don’t know how many names have been mentioned, I don’t give it much importance.
“If you’ll allow me to give my opinion, United should take Ten Hag this week. That would make me very happy.”
Amorim’s joke about Ten Hag stemmed from the fact that the two would face off in the Champions League in the forthcoming weeks.
His Sporting side, which had lost 5-1 at home to Ajax in September 2021, were then beaten in the reverse fixture 4-2 that December.
On paper, Man United made the correct choice between the two managers when they inadvertently followed Amorim’s advice by duly appointing Ten Hag the following summer.
However, two-and-a-half years later, the former has become the undisputed number-one choice to lead the post-Ten Hag era.
Amorim is hugely popular at Sporting after ending decades of obscurity
The speed with which the Red Devils have informed Sporting they will pay the €10million (£8.3m) release clause in Amorim’s contract mirrors the manager’s own rapid rise to the top.
Appointed as Braga reserve boss in September 2019, it was just four months before the former Portugal midfielder was given the first team job, and began with a 7-1 destruction of Belenenses.
Soon, ten wins and a draw followed in all domestic competitions, winning the League Cup final and racking up wins against all of ‘Os Tres Grandes’ – the big three.
One of them had seen enough, with Sporting CP handing Amorim a contract featuring a £13m release clause, by far the biggest in the history of Portuguese football, just four months into his professional career.
Incredibly though, that clause soon looked cheap, with Amorim guiding the faltering giants to their first league title in 19 years, ending a curse and cementing legendary status in his home country.
Amorim has been hoisted by his players on multiple occasions after securing titles, but such a humble character would have found the gesture rather awkwardGetty
Amorim (No.10) played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo (No.7) at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups
Turning out for Lisbon rivals Benfica over 150 times as a player, Amorim even featured alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal at two World Cups.
The 39-year-old is clearly destined for greatness, which has led to him being labelled ‘the next Mourinho’.
Those comparisons will continue now he’s following in his footsteps at Man United, but in reality, that’s where the mutual links end.
Every imaginable criticism of Mourinho over the years, Amorim is the antithesis of.
Mourinho doesn’t like youth; Amorim won the title with teenagers dotted all over the pitch, turning debutants into superstars in mere weeks.
Amorim will hope to return United to the top where Mourinho could notGetty
His first port of call is always to give credit to his staff and playersGetty
Mourinho is arrogant; Amorim always takes the blame for defeats and ensures that his players are given credit for wins.
Upon winning Sporting’s historic title, he even made sure his staff were present for the press conference, sharing the plaudits for such an incredible victory that was mostly down to him.
Earmarked by some as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor at Real Madrid, Amorim was mooted to be in the running for vacancies at every top club.
The former Portugal international was linked with the West Ham vacancy during the summer and travelled to London for talks.
Amorim had also been identified as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and was considered by Liverpool.
And the way in which he responded to those Manchester United reports pre-Erik ten Hag, was as anti-Mourinho as ever.
Amorim told Man United to go after Ten HagGetty
The only real similarity between Mourinho and Amorim is their nationality.
But should Amorim officially arrive in Manchester, it’s possible the Portuguese manager could have a similar impact as Mourinho managed in his first campaign in England – at rivals Chelsea.
Certainly, we are looking at someone who is heading to the top.
