What are Rubén Amorim's tactics and playing style? Formation of the new Manchester United coach, expected XI and statistics
Ruben Amorim will take charge of Manchester United for the first time this weekend against Ipswich Town.
Amorim arrived at Man United last week and will be on the sideline on Sunday after succeeding Erik ten Hag.
He will take the place of Ruud van Nistelrooy who temporarily stabilized the ship after the sack of Ten Hag.
Amorim has earned a reputation as one of Europe's best coaches after coaching Sporting Lisbon to two league titles in four years.
The former Portugal international He was linked with West Ham vacant over the summer and I traveled to London to talk.
He ultimately rejected the Hammers' offer and apologized to Sporting fans for agreeing to the meeting.
Amorim was considered by Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munichand Juventus but in the end all the clubs decided to go in different directions.
The 39-year-old man was also identified as potential successor to Pep Guardiola in city of manchester.
But he has arrived at Old Trafford and this is what United fans can expect from him…
Amorim: a brief history
Amorim spent a brief period training at Casa Pia, then a third division club in Portuguese football, after his retirement from football.
He was named Braga's reserve manager in September 2019, but handed the reins to the first team within four months.
His start to managerial life at the highest level in January 2020 began with a 7-1 defeat over Belenenses and a trophy soon followed.
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Before the end of the month, he had overseen victory in the League Cup final Port and soon he moved on and achieved victories against the rest of 'Os Tres Grandes', the big three.
This included Braga's first away win Benfica in 65 years after a goal from Bayern Munich and former Fulham star Joao Palhinha.
The rest of Portugal's big three had seen enough: Sporting shelled out the third-highest transfer fee for a manager in history, spending €10m (£8.3m) for his services that summer.
Despite his inexperience, Amorim soon rewarded that faith by winning the club's first league title in 19 years.
Sporting were crowned champions again in the 2023/24 campaign, and Amorim also won two Taca da Liga titles.
He currently has the club in first place in the Portuguese top flight so far this season thanks to a 100 per cent record in nine games.
Sporting are also eighth in the Champions League stage standings with two wins and a draw in their first three games.
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Playing style and tactics.
The Portuguese coach has a clear preference for a 3-4-3 formation, focused on high pressing and possession.
Amorim normally attacks in a 3-2-5 shape and then defends as a 5-2-3, radically different to United's system under Ten Hag.
His absolute commitment to his playing philosophy apparently it was among the reasons proposed talks with Liverpool broke.
Amorim oversees possession-based attacking football, but there is also a pragmatism to his tactics that focuses on defensive structure.
United often lined up in a 4-2-3-1 under Ten Hag, but criticism persisted that there was no clear style of football on display.
By contrast, Amorim have adapted their 3-4-3 formation so that each player has clearly defined roles in and out of possession.
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Ironically, he used a back three for the first time in his third game as coach at Casa Pia, having lost the first two.
The change in system brought him instant success and it has since been his favorite setup at Braga and then at Sporting.
Amorim teams tend to be flexible between playing in a low block (a compact defensive shape focused on protecting the space near the goal) and pressing aggressively when out of possession.
What is most consistent is that in their 3-4-3 formation, the attacking full-backs are key in all thirds of the field.
Amorim has used two defensive midfielders to cover their full-backs, who push high up the pitch and stay wide to form a 3-4-2-1.
This also allows their two attacking midfielders to get into pockets behind a lone striker while continuing to stretch the opponent's backline.
The proximity of his teammates in and around the center forward also allows Sporting to go direct, with passes to Viktor Gyokeres.
The latter then holds him up high before letting him out, and the position of the high full-backs also leads to regular changes of play.
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How could this work for Man United?
talkSPORT.com has looked at how United could prepare under Amorim if they have a fully fit squad.
He won't have everyone available for his first game as there are some injuries, but this would be his dream scenario for the Red Devils.
Amorim is known for defending youth and can implement the high-pressure, possession-based style of football that INEOS is looking for.
Like Ten Hag, his goal is for his goalkeeper to be active in the preparation phase, with André Onana's ability on the ball being vital.
In possession of a goal kick, the central defender of Amorim's three defenders will join the midfield line at the tip of a diamond.
That three-man midfield creates better passing angles so Onana and the two remaining defenders can work the ball and advance.
Their starting three defenders would likely consist of Matthijs de LigtLisandro Martínez and leny yoro – with Harry Maguire I also feel comfortable using that system when I'm in shape.
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Manuel Ugarte He flourished with Amorim at Sporting and will enjoy returning to his role as a defensive shield for a double pivot.
The Uruguayan will be accompanied by one of Kobbie Mainoo, bricklayer assembly either Christian Eriksen to provide creativity in possession, but casemiro Offer an older head if necessary.
On paper, Amorim's system does not work with a number 10 but with his compatriot Bruno Fernandez I would probably start from the right.
But, as mentioned, the key to Fernandes dropping into central areas behind Rasmus Hojlund They will be the overlapping sides.
Diogo Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui will compete for that position, with Alejandro Garnacho competing with Amad Diallo and Mark Rashford in the last third.
