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Charting the playing and coaching career of Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, considering his Tactical Approach, Trophies won, Personal Life and exploring his Wealth.
Who is Ruben Amorim?
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Ruben Amorim (Full name: Ruben Filipe Marques Amorim) is a Portuguese professional football manager and former player.
Amorim's Manchester United appointment was confirmed on November 1, 2024, after a successful period at Portuguese Primeira Liga club Sporting Lisbon, even if he does not resume at the Premier League club until November 11.
Amorim is known for his tactical flexibility and preference for a possession-based, attacking style of play, with his tactical approach making him one of the most sought-after young managers in European football.
Before moving into management, Amorim played as a midfielder for various clubs in Portugal, including Benfica and Braga.
He also represented the Portuguese national team, featuring 14 times and appearing at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups before international retirement.
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Where is Ruben Amorim from?
Ruben Amorim is from Lisbon, Portugal. He was born and raised in the Portuguese capital and made his professional football debut playing for his hometown club, Belenenses.
Ruben Amorim Age
Ruben Amorim is 39 years old as of November 2024. He was born on January 27, 1985.
Ruben Amorim Height
Ruben Amorim is 5 feet 10 inches tall. In metres, he is 1.78m tall.
Ruben Amorim Playing Career
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Ruben Amorim was a central midfielder adept at fulfilling offensive and defensive responsibilities. He could also play at right-back or right midfield.
He began his senior career at his hometown club, Belenenses, where he became a regular starter and helped them achieve a respectable league position of eighth in the 2007-08 season.
His performances attracted the attention of Benfica, which he joined in April 2008, signing a four-year contract.
At Benfica, Amorim experienced a mixed bag. He contributed to league and cup triumphs but faced fierce competition for his position and suffered significant knee injuries that hampered his playing time.
Frustration with limited opportunities and clashes with then-manager Jorge Jesus led to an extended loan spell at Braga in January 2012, where he regained form and confidence.
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Amorim returned to Benfica and played a crucial role in their historic treble-winning season in 2013-14, showcasing his versatility and winning mentality.
However, another serious injury disrupted his momentum and led to a move to Qatari club Al-Wakrah in 2015, returning to Lisbon the following year.
After a period of inactivity, he decided to retire from professional football in 2017 at the age of 32.
According to Transfermarkt, Amorim played 310 club games and scored 16 times.
Who did Ruben Amorim Play for?
Youth career
Clube Atlético Cultural: 1998–2000
Benfica: 2000–2002
Belenenses: 2002–2003
Senior career
Belenenses: 2003–2008
Benfica: 2008–2017
Braga (loan): 2012–2013
Al-Wakrah (loan): 2015–2016
Ruben Amorim International Career
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After playing for the youth sides — U18, U19, U20 and U21 — Ruben Amorim made his Portugal debut on June 15, 2010, in a World Cup match against the Ivory Coast.
His last appearance for the Selecao came in the 2014 World Cup finals, a 2-1 victory against Ghana in June 2014. He was capped 14 times for the national team.
Ruben Amorim Coaching Career
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Ruben Amorim's early coaching career saw him take the reins at Casa Pia in the Portuguese third division in 2018-19.
Despite initial struggles, he found success by implementing a back-three system, a tactic that would become his trademark.
He then moved to Braga in September 2019, initially managing their reserve team before promotion to the first team after Ricardo Sa Pinto was given the heave-ho.
In a short but impactful spell, Amorim led Braga to victory in the Taca da Liga, their first trophy in four years.
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He also masterminded a historic away win against Benfica in February 2020, ending a 65-year drought.
Amorim’s impressive 10 wins in 13 games solidified his reputation as a rising star in management, leading to his Sporting switch in March 2020 after Silas’ dismissal.
Amorim ended Sporting's 19-year title drought in his debut season (2020-21), with his side's 32-match undefeated run a particular highlight. The Lions also notched the cup, thus completing the domestic double.
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Although they could not retain the league crown the following year (2021-22), the young manager won the Portuguese Super Cup, guided the club to the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time in 13 years (not since 2008-09) and secured another Taca de Liga title.
His third full season in 2022-23 at the Lisbon giants saw them finish fourth and lose the domestic cup final to Porto (2-0).
Amorim and Sporting responded to that below-par season with a stunning 2023-24 performance to reclaim the Primeira Liga title, the club's 20th.
Although they narrowly lost the domestic cup decider against Porto, Amorim's status as a talented young manager was already established.
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17:38 - 29.10.2024
Sporting Lisbon confirm Man United ready to pay ₦17 billion for Ruben Amorim as Erik ten Hag's replacement
Sporting Lisbon provided a major update on Manchester United's bid to replace Erik Ten Hag.
The 2024-25 league season began with Sporting reeling off nine consecutive wins as of November 1, 2024, convincing Manchester United to agree to a deal with the Portuguese club to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.
Ruben Amorim Manchester United
On October 31, 2024, Manchester United worked out a deal to appoint Sporting head coach Ruben Amorim as Ten Hag's replacement at Old Trafford. The deal was confirmed on November 1, 2024.
The Red Devils secured Amorim's services by paying an €11 million (£9.25 million; $11.95 million) release clause to Sporting CP.
This came after direct negotiations in Lisbon led by the club’s chief executive, Omar Berrada, confirming the Portuguese financial regulator's report. This allowed the Portuguese manager to leave his contract earlier than the 30-day notice period.
The agreement between the clubs allows Amorim to lead Sporting in their next three games, including a Champions League clash with Manchester City (November 5) and a league match against Braga (November 10), before managing United for the first time in their away game at Ipswich Town on November 24th.
The Lions defeated Estrela (5-1) and thrashed Pep Guardiola's Man City (4-1) in Amorim's penultimate game in charge of the Lisbon giants.
Can Ruben Amorim speak English?
Yes, Ruben Amorim can speak English and has shown his comendable grasp of the language in previous press conferences.
There was a feeling that Ten Hag never communicated with assuredness but Manchester United supporters may not have to worry about that with their new boss.
Ruben Amorim Tactics
According to the Coaches' Voice via the Premier League, Ruben Amorim's success at Sporting Lisbon stemmed from his proactive, adaptable tactics that emphasised possession, attacking through the inside channels and pressing.
Amorim employed a back-three system — typically a 3-4-2-1 — designed to break lines and build possession from the back.
The central centre-back often pushed higher, creating numerical overloads in midfield and opening passing lanes to bypass the opposition press.
Amorim's wing-backs provided width, allowing the attackers to overload one channel and create opportunities for combinations or switches of play.
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The departing Sporting head coach favoured a fluid front three who rotated and operated primarily in the inside channels.
Without the ball, Amorim's Sporting utilised an intense pressing system, with the front three prioritising central areas and forcing play wide.
The double-pivot typically covered central lanes and pressed aggressively, while the nearest wing-back to the ball pushed high to support the press and the far-side wing-back tucked in to provide defensive cover.
When unable to press without the ball, Amorim's Sporting dropped into a 5-2-3 or 5-4-1 mid-block, funnelling play wide.
Wing-backs aggressively pressed wide players, supported by the shifting double pivot and a compact backline, while the front three continued to press, with the far-side attacker adapting their position based on the opponent's tendencies.
Ruben Amorim Stats
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As of November 5, 2024, Amorim has managed Sporting in 230 matches, as per Transfermarkt.
He has won 164 games, drawing 33 and losing 33.
The Portuguese manager has used 88 players while in charge of the Lisbon giants.
Previously, he clinched 10 victories in 13 matches at Braga, drawing one and losing two.
Ruben Amorim Trophies
Playing Career
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Benfica
Primeira Liga: 2009–10, 2013–14, 2014–15
Taca de Portugal: 2013–14
Taca da Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15
Supertaca Candido de Oliveira (Portuguese Super Cup): 2014
Braga
Taca da Liga: 2012–13
Coaching Career
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Braga
Taca da Liga: 2019–20
Sporting Lisbon
Primeira Liga: 2020–21, 2023–24
Taca da Liga: 2020–21, 2021–22
Supertaca Candido de Oliveira (Portuguese Super Cup): 2021
Ruben Amorim Wife
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Ruben Amorim's wife is Maria Joao Diogo. They were married in 2013 at the Palacio e Mosteiro de Sao Marcos in Coimbra, with 160 guests in attendance. They have a son, Miguel, who was born in 2016.
Although a telecommunications engineering graduate, she co-founded an interior design company called Dois Tons with Raquel Gomes, the wife of Sporting's outgoing director of football, Hugo Viana.
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Ruben Amorim Net Worth
Ruben Amorim's net worth is estimated to be $16 million (£13/€15m), according to several sources.
Amorim had a respectable playing career in Portugal, primarily with Belenenses and Benfica, and he earned a good living.
However, he has found even greater success as a manager, with his impressive work at Braga leading to a big-money move to Sporting CP in 2020, where he became highly paid and sought-after.
With his move to Manchester United, Amorim’s worth is anticipated to rise due to his improved salary and future ventures.
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