After 128 games under Eric ten Hag’s helm, Manchester United finally called time on the Dutchman. The two trophies in two years were insufficient to keep the baldy in place.
Ten Hag actually posted the second-best performing win rate (56%) in United’s post-Sir Alex Ferguson managerial era. Jose Mourinho leads the pack at 58%, followed by Solskjaer (55%), Van Gaal (52%), David Moyes (51%), and Ralf Rangnick (38%).
For the record, Sir Alex Ferguson finished his 26-year reign with a 65% win record, which included 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League. Incredible.
Can the newly hired Ruben Amorim bring 14th-place Premier League Manchester United back to glory? All signs point to the 39-year-old Portuguese boss being the right hire.
Amorim officially signed his three-year contract on Friday and starts his new gig on November 11. The contract includes an optional additional year with $12 million compensation to Sporting Lisbon. The Red Devils threw an extra $1 million in there for his staff.
Amorim, the promising one?
Ruben Amorim seems to be the right fit for United: a tactical nut who harvests chance creation and prevention while excelling in youth performance. Just look at Pedro Porro’s emergence at Tottenham Hotspur since leaving Sporting last season. The Spaniard is now a Real Madrid target for the right-back position.
In his introductory 2020/21 season, Amorim brought Lisbon its first Premiera Liga title in two decades. He repeated the effort last season. Amorim also secured three Taca da Liga Cups, one with his previous employer, Braga.
Amorim led Sporting atop the table this term with nine out of nine wins, in addition to a top ten ranking in the Champions League phase format after three games.
There’s a reason why Amorim nearly snatched the Liverpool job over the summer: he employs a dynamic 3-4-2-1 formation that mimics Klopp’s fluidity in attack. His team scored 30 goals in this nine-game Premiera Liga campaign alone. Marcus Rashford will take note.
Meanwhile, Amorim’s defenses remain brick walls with only two goals allowed. Yet, there is some speculation over Amorim’s limited big-club experience.
West Ham nearly hired Amorim to replace David Moyes last April. The West London club claimed high transfer fees got in the way, but they have recently admitted to concerns over Amorim’s so-called “inexperience.”
Well, it looks like Manchester United is more than willing to take that gamble, especially since cross-town rivals City were considering Amorim to replace Guardiola after this season.
Interestingly, Amorim’s first big Premier League match will be versus Arsenal. If it’s any preview, he knocked the Gunners out of the Europa League last season with Sporting.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Nani—the Sporting Lisbon-turned-Red Devil transfers have produced glowing results in the past. Will the Amorim hire do the same?
