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When Manchester United appointed Rúben Amorim last November, it wasn’t just another managerial change. It felt like a conscious pivot toward rebuilding—not on old habits, but on identity, clarity, and method. The question isn’t whether Amorim will bring change. The question is whether the change will be meaningful.
A Style Rooted in Structure and Communication
Amorim arrives with a track record few can match at his age. He led Sporting CP to their first league title in 19 years in 2021, repeating the feat just as United came calling again in 2024. His teams have been praised for their tactical fluidity, intensity, and aggressive pressing—qualities cultivated in Portugal but now tested in the unforgiving balance of Old Trafford.
That intensity isn’t surface-level either. Sky Sports describes him as “organised, combative and intense,” with an ability to connect with players quickly—“his message is clear and easy to understand.” And The Times suggests his communication could be a rare asset at United—something even Cristiano Ronaldo singled out.
Rebuilding a Squad, One Window at a Time
When reports suggested Amorim needed six transfer windows to truly reshape United, it didn’t feel like postponing change—it sounded strategic. He’s making clear that rebuilding this club isn’t a quick fix. It’s deliberate.
INEOS and the football operations hierarchy seem aligned with that view. There’s acknowledgement that this will be a long haul, not a quick win.
Managing the Pieces New Structure, New Culture
Amorim wasted no time restructuring. He brought in specialized coaches for defense, midfield, and attack a departure from what many players were used to under Ten Hag. It’s modern. It’s nuanced. And it’s clear that training at Carrington now serves purpose by design, not tradition.
More recently, he’s set up a six-man leadership group that blends experience and youth notably including Tom Heaton, Lisandro Martínez, Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, and Noussair Mazraoui. The idea: internal accountability, peer-led influence, and a strong sense of culture from within.
Calculated Transfers with a Game Plan
Amorim hasn’t hesitated to say some players won’t fit his vision. Early reports noted his intent to move on high earners like Casemiro and Antony not some abstract plan, but concrete choices.
On the incoming side, signings like Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško seem well-tailored to fit a 3-4-3 setup that rewards dynamic movement, aggression, and pressing. Šeško in particular, arriving this summer, feels like the kind of big bet United hope Amorim can make pay off.
Reality Check The Burden, The Pressure
Still, promises don’t win Premier League games. The start of the season brings scrutiny. Rashford recently warned that United are in “no man’s land,” lacking a footballing identity that’s been undermined by years of constant managerial turnover.
That instability is the unseen opponent Amorim must face. Repeating Sporting’s turnaround is one thing. Doing it under Old Trafford’s glare, amid expectations—and the club’s recent lowest league finish since the 70s—is another.
Final Thoughts: A Worthy Risk
Amorim isn’t a safe hire. But few at this moment could claim to be. He offers clarity, a structure, a voice that resonates. He has the backing to rebuild, but also the pressure to perform fast.
If he succeeds, it will be because the club finally aligned behind a vision rather than around a name. If it fails, it likely won’t be a lack of ideas—but perhaps impatience baked into the system itself.