Soon after it emerged that Manchester United had called time on Erik ten Hag's two-year stay at Old Trafford - and his assistant, club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy would step in as interim manager - speculation began about the Dutchman's successor.
It did not take long for one name to emerge ahead of the pack, as 39-year-old Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim is understood to have agreed terms to take over perhaps the Premier League's most high-profile role - but one that some now consider a poisoned chalice.
Amorim has been coveted by many clubs during his time in Portugal and could have left Sporting last season before talks with Liverpool and West Ham United failed to work out - he has also been linked with succeeding Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
But, for the second time in a relatively brief managerial career, someone is now set to pay his eight-figure release clause, so Sports Mole weighs up whether Ruben Amorim would be the right man for Man Utd.
Amorim's route to the top: from despair to delight
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Like many top bosses before him, injury forced Amorim to retire early, putting him straight on the path towards a future career in coaching.
On his way up the ladder, he even spent a week with compatriot Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, while combining studies with time on the training pitch.
After a solid playing career, during which he won three titles with Benfica and went to one World Cup with Portugal, Amorim first made headlines as a coach when taking the Primeira Liga by storm in 2020.
Having been promoted from the club's 'B' team, the then 35-year-old made an incredible impact at Braga, racking up 10 wins from 13 games and lifting the Taca da Liga before Sporting swooped to sign him.
The Lisbon giants paid 10m euros (£8.6m) for his services - which was the third-highest transfer fee for a manager at the time - but that proved a worthwhile investment given how events have since transpired.
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Though Sporting lost Bruno Fernandes to United shortly before Amorim's arrival, a team featuring several players who would go on to impress in the Premier League awaited the leadership that would take them to another level.
Pedro Porro, now at Tottenham Hotspur, Matheus Nunes (Manchester City) and Joao Palhinha (Bayern Munich, via Fulham) all raised their game, as did current Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes.
Amorim harnessed such talent, bringing discipline and structure to a previously chaotic club, duly delivering a first league title in 19 years: Sporting embarked on a 32-match unbeaten run, leaving domestic rivals Porto and Benfica in their wake.
Then, they booked a place in the Champions League's last 16 for just the second time to date, proving that their rookie coach's methods could translate to the big stage.
After losing several more stars - including United midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who left for PSG - Amorim rebuilt again, before guiding the Lions to another first-placed finish in 2023-24.
His current squad features plenty of home-grown flair, in addition to standout Scandinavian duo Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Gyokeres - and the reigning champions have won all nine Primeira Liga games so far this season.
Will Amorim's tactics translate?
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Fans and pundits alike often expressed frustration at Erik ten Hag's tactics, bemused by his team's shapeless displays. By contrast, Ruben Amorim has a clear style of play - albeit one which supposedly cost him a shot at the Liverpool job.
The basis of Amorim's teams so far have been a robust back three, usually as part of a 3-4-3 formation in possession; when defending, that can shift to almost a 5-2-3.
He is far from stubborn, though, showing sufficient flexibility to outfox top opponents, particularly in European competition - any perceived weaknesses are exploited.
Playing a high defensive line, Sporting exhibit a fearless mentality; out of possession, they press aggressively and then try to counter-attack.
While inspired by his former Benfica coach Jorge Jesus - an advocate of all-out attack - he has also incorporated some of Mourinho's pragmatism, suggesting he is not too much of an idealist to thrive in the Premier League.
Furnished with a speedy and skilful attack, albeit one lacking confidence with finishing or the final pass, Amorim seems well-equipped to get the best out of Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and co.
Would Amorim be the right fit for Man Utd?
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For all his talk of trophies, Erik ten Hag left with Manchester United languishing 14th in the Premier League table, following just three wins from their first nine matches this season.
So, Amorim would again inherit a team requiring rapid improvement, coming in just before an international break that would allow him to get his feet under the table.
Yet to reach 40, he has already established a reputation for leadership in adversity, having quickly turned things around in both of his first two roles.
He is also renowned for developing young talent, guiding a number of Sporting's academy graduates into the first team and shaping them into senior pros - given Man Utd's current squad profile, that could bring the best out of Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, et al.
Crucially, Amorim speaks good English and is far more at ease with the press than spiky Ten Hag, who arrived from the Eredivisie without the subtle PR skills required of a modern United manager.
Supporters of Sporting - who would be sad to see him go, yet expected his departure - describe a clear sense of direction, renewed ambition and focus under his watch.
Meanwhile, the Portuguese media commend his pre and post-match press conferences, which are generally conducted in a calm and objective manner, with clear and effective messaging.
Perhaps his judgement can be questioned in one regard, though: back in 2021, when first linked with United, Amorim suggested the boss of Sporting's next Champions League opponents Ajax instead, saying: "United should contract Ten Hag, and right away!"
Jonathan O'Shea
