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Erik ten Hag is remarkably still manager of Manchester United.
After a dismal start to the season that has seen United slump to 14th position in the Premier League, most fans expected part-owners Ineos to cut ties with the Dutchman during this international break.
The Red Devils have failed to win a match in the Europa League, have scored the second fewest goals in the Premier League and most of Ten Hag’s new signings cannot get a place in the starting line-up.
One of the reasons many believe for Ineos’ lack of action is that there is no obvious candidate to replace the 54 year old.
Gareth Southgate, who would have been an unpopular choice in any case with the fans, has ruled himself out, while Thomas Tuchel looks set to take a job in international management and could even replace the former Middlesbrough man as England boss.
Meanwhile, Julian Nagelsmann, Xabi Alonso and Simeone Inzaghi have declared themselves very happy to stay with the German national team, Bayer Leverkusen and Inter Milan, respectively.
Looking at the overachieving young managers across Europe, one name that stands out but who has not been linked much with the potential United job is that of Ruben Amorim.
However, “according to Givemesport sources, Man United have added Amorim’s name to a list of candidates they are tracking for a potential managerial vacancy, alongside the likes of [Thomas] Frank and Tuchel.”
It was widely reported that Amorim was on the shortlist to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in the summer, and also was interviewed for the West Ham job, but he stayed at Sporting.
Amorim’s success with the Lisbon side, and before, has certainly been impressive. In his inaugural season as a manager in 2019/20, he guided Sporting Braga to second place in the Portuguese league before being poached halfway through the campaign by Sporting, despite his playing history with arch rivals, Benfica.
In his four full seasons at the José Alvalade stadium, Amorim has won the league twice and been runner up once, with one blip in 2022/23, when his team finished fourth.
Sporting are already top of the league again this season, winning eight out of eight games so far, and look set to make it a hat trick of wins for the 39 year old.
Given the superior spending power of Portugal’s big hitters FC Porto and Benfica, Amorim’s achievement is quite striking and he has done it playing bright, entertaining football.
If United do make a move for the Portuguese, it will certainly go down well with his countryman, United captain and former Sporting star, Bruno Fernandes.
Speaking ahead of Portugal’s clash with Poland tonight, Fernandes said (via Footboom):
“Since Mr. Amorim took over at Sporting, they have become one of the teams playing the best football.
“They have been consistent, the signings have been spot on, and they are currently in a very good moment. It’s a well-prepared team.
“Regarding Amorim, he shows that he is ready at this moment. Coaching Sporting and winning titles is not easy; the club went 20 years without winning championships, and Amorim arrived and has already won two.
“This shows that his work has been successful. Whether he can replicate that in England, Spain, or anywhere else remains to be seen, but I am confident that his qualities are evident to everyone.”
Some would argue that it is a big leap from success in Portugal to being able to manager in the Premier League. However, it has been known to work, as a certain former Chelsea, Spurs and United manager, José Mourinho, amply demonstrates.
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