Ruben Amorim is on the verge of a sensational return to management, with reports linking him to the Benfica hotseat as a replacement for another former Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho.
Amorim's Manchester United Struggles
The 41-year-old Portuguese coach arrived at Old Trafford with a burgeoning reputation after success at Sporting Lisbon, but his tenure proved turbulent. He was sacked in January after winning just 25 of his 63 games in charge. Since then, Manchester United have improved under interim boss Michael Carrick, who is expected to be appointed permanently.
Return to Portugal
Amorim initially made his name at Sporting Lisbon, where he won two Portuguese league titles. Now, he could return to Portugal with their fierce rivals Benfica. According to The Sun, Benfica have identified Amorim as the ideal successor to Mourinho, who is set to return to Real Madrid.
Despite his strong ties to Sporting, Amorim actually played for Benfica during his career, finishing his playing days there before moving into coaching. He is also described as a close friend of Benfica president Rui Costa, who was the club's sporting director during Amorim's playing spell. Costa remains an admirer of Amorim, despite his struggles in England.
Previous Interest from Top Clubs
Before joining Manchester United, Amorim was linked with several top clubs. In October 2024, it was reported that Manchester City had identified him as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola, who is leaving the Etihad at the end of the season after a trophy-laden decade. City's sporting director, Hugo Viana, worked closely with Amorim at Sporting Lisbon. Liverpool also showed interest in the Portuguese coach.
However, it was Manchester United who moved decisively for Amorim, just weeks after City's interest emerged, following the decision to sack Erik ten Hag. Now, Amorim looks set for a swift return to management in familiar surroundings.
