'Very focused': Ruben Amorim earned coaching badges with Gabby Agbonlahor and left a lasting impression

Gabby Agbonlahor has opened up about the impression new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim left on her when the pair took their coaching badges together.

And he believes the Red Devils may have hit the jackpot with this appointment.

United have confirmed that Amorim will be their new managertaking office as of November 11.

He joins with a contract that initially lasts until June 2027, although with the option to extend it for another year.

Amorim leaves his position as coach of the Primeira Liga club Sporting Lisbon where it has been since March 2020.

Having enjoyed a highly successful spell in Portugal, where Sporting CP won two top-flight titles, two league cups and a Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (equivalent to the Community Shield), he will now take on a new challenge.

But, according to talkSPORT expert and Aston Villa legend AgbonlahorFrom what he's seen of Amorim, he's more than up to the job.

“I got my coaching credentials from him,” Agbonlahor admitted.

“He was there and he was very into it; he just had to get his badges and then start managing.”

When asked by the co-host Alan Brazil What exactly the coaching badge sessions entailed, Agbonlahor went on to explain how Amorim's attitude had caught his attention during the exercises.

“You know what, buddy?” said. “It's not as easy as people think. So my first session I did was a crossing and finishing session, a kickball session and then a normal shooting session.

“So you've got all the other players, then some kids come from the Belfast academies and you've done the sessions with them. “But he was very focused.

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“Since the start of last season, Sporting Lisbon has scored the most goals in the six major leagues, 129 goals. They were waiting 19 years to win a title. He goes there, he has won two in the last five seasons , Amorim.

“He trained for only two months in Braga, before Sporting Lisbon paid 10 million euros, which is the fourth largest transfer fee for a coach.

“After Nagelsmann he went to Bayern Munich from Leipzig for 25 million euros, Graham Potter, from Brighton to Chelsea, 23 million euros. Villas-Boas, from Porto to Chelsea, 15 million euros, and then Amorim from Braga to Sporting Lisbon, 10 million euros.

“So I think when you look at what he's done since he left Braga for Sporting Lisbon and then broke those 19 years without winning a league title, I think Manchester United have the right man.”

This is not the first time Agbonlahor has reflected on how much Amorim impressed him on that particular occasion.

In April this year, when Liverpool were looking for a successor to Jurgen Klopp, Agbonlahor praised Amorim's idea as a potential candidate as well.

“He was someone who said, he was on it, mate,” he had told Darren Bent on talkSPORT Drive. “Some people might have laughed a little and joked about the field and stuff, he was in it.

“Concentrating in each meeting, all the theoretical part, when you did the training things on the field you could tell that he was in it.

“I'm sure that was five years ago, he's 39 now, so he's a pretty young manager, but I don't see why not, he's doing a great job at Sporting, isn't he?”

Amorim's management history

Casa Pia (July 2018 to January 2019): W3, E0, P1 – 75% winning percentage

Braga B (September to December 2019): eight wins, two draws, one loss – 73% winning percentage

Braga (December 2019 to March 2020): 10 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses: 77% win rate

Sporting Lisbon (March 2020 to present): W161, E34, P33 – 71% winning percentage