A Look At Ruben Amorim’s Managerial Record As Sporting CP Boss Edges Closer To Becoming New Manchester United Manager

Ruben Amorim is in advanced talks to become the new Manchester United manager following Erik ten Hag’s sacking – so how does the Portuguese’s managerial record fare?

The Sporting CP coach has been approached by multiple Premier League clubs over the past 18 months, including Tottenham, Liverpool, West Ham, and Chelsea, but is now the bookies favourite to be appointed the new Manchester United manager.

United fans will be hoping Amorim will be able to breathe new life into the Red Devils, who have just one win in their last eight across all competitions.

Erik ten Hag may have won two trophies during his tenure at the club, but ultimately, performances have been abysmal at times, and it was never sustainable to progress into title contention.

Amorim, who was recently tipped to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, should bring a clear style of play from the start and look to rectify some squad-building mistakes the previous regime made.

The 39-year-old has a 100% record in Liga Portugal after nine games played this season, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two. His Sporting CP side have also started strongly in the Champions League, having yet to lose any of their opening three games.

Let’s break down Amorim’s managerial record below.

Ruben Amorim Managerial Record

2024/25 Season Stats

• Liga Portugal: 9 played (9W, 0D, 0L)
• European Competition: 3 played (2W, 1D, 0L)
• Domestic Cup: 2 played (1W, 0D, 1L)
• Overall: 14 played (12W, 1D, 1L)

2023/24 Season Stats

• Liga Portugal: 34 played (29W, 3D, 2L)
• European Competition: 10 played (4W, 4D, 2L)
• Domestic Cup: 10 played (7W, 1D, 2L)
• Overall: 54 played (40W, 8D, 6L)

All Time Managerial Stats

• Liga Portugal: 165 played (128W, 23D, 14L)
• European Competition: 37 played (14W, 10D, 13L)
• Domestic Cup: 42 played (32W, 1D, 9L)
• Overall: 244 played (174W, 34D, 36L)

Ruben Amorim Trophies Won As Manager

Braga

• Taça da Liga (2019-20): This initial victory with Braga demonstrated Amorim’s potential in the short term. Despite being a smaller club compared to the “Big Three” of Portugal, he managed to lead Braga to the top of a national competition, signalling the beginning of a promising career.

Sporting CP

• Liga Portugal (2020-21, 2023-24): Breaking the hegemony of Benfica and Porto is an arduous task, but Amorim managed to do so on two occasions. These titles demonstrate his ability to build competitive teams and achieve consistent results throughout an entire season.
• Taça da Liga (2020-21, 2021-22): The repeated conquest of the Taça da Liga solidified Sporting’s dominance under Amorim’s command.
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (2021): This title, disputed between the league and cup champions, crowned a year of great success for Sporting.

Individual Awards

• 8 x Liga Portugal Manager of the Month
• 2021 Liga Portugal Manager of the Season
• 2024 Liga Portugal Manager of the Season

How Will Ruben Amorim Fare at Manchester United?

Amorim’s journey to the brink of one of the world’s biggest managerial roles is nothing short of remarkable. A former midfielder for Benfica and the Portuguese national team, he transitioned seamlessly into coaching following a brief stint in Qatar.

Having showcased his tactical acumen and ability to nurture young talent during his early managerial experiences at Casa Pia and Braga, he was eventually hired by Sporting CP in 2020, at the age of just 35.

Although he is a flexible operator, Amorim often employs a 3-4-3 formation that emphasises high-pressing, possession-based football. As highlighted in his managerial record, the system has proven to be highly effective both domestically and in European competitions.

His ability to adapt to different situations and opponents has been crucial to his success. Whether it’s controlling the tempo against a defensively-minded team or launching quick counterattacks, Amorim’s tactical intelligence stands out.

Given United’s current lack of options at left-back, and in Amorim’s case, left-wing-back, he may be forced to adapt his style in the short term, or at least until Luke Shaw returns to fitness.

Having previously gotten the best out of Manuel Ugarte, and with the possibility of bringing someone like Viktor Gyokeres along with him, fans have got every right to be optimistic about Amorim’s appointment.