Amorim is the perfect candidate for the Manchester United coaching job.

Manchester United have been looking for a new coach since yesterday. The current head coach of Sporting Lisbon, Ruben Amorim, has become the best candidate. But who is the Portuguese and who else is considered Eric ten Haag's successor?

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After more than two years, Manchester United parted ways with Dutch coach Erik ten Hag. The much-maligned coach has long been criticized and the car has failed to progress this season. The Red Devils are currently only 14th in the standings. Manchester United are still waiting for their first win in the Europa League.

Erik ten Hag has been out as Manchester United manager since Monday.Image: fxp-fr-sda-rtp

Ten Hag's compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over temporarily. The former striker has been an assistant coach in Manchester since the start of the new season. There are already a number of names floating around Old Trafford. The favorite to succeed the Ten Witches has emerged.

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According to multiple British media reports, an agreement with Ruben Amorim is imminent. The Portuguese is currently under contract with Sporting Lisbon, which currently has an exit clause of approximately €10 million. Discussions are said to have already taken place, with Amorim fully conceivable moving to England. Amorim had been linked with a move to Liverpool FC in the summer, but they ultimately decided on Arne Slaughter.

Amorim have not lost a game so far this season.Picture: www.imago-images.de

Amorim spent almost his entire career in Portugal. In the summer of 2015, the 39-year-old moved to Qatari club Al-Wakrah SC. During his tenure, the former international played more than 150 games for Lisbon Benfica and won the Portuguese championship three times with Benfica. Amorim has played a total of 14 games for the national team and participated in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

As a player, Amorim spent most of his time under contract with Lisbon side Benfica.Picture: www.imago-images.de

Amorim's coaching career did not get off to a happy start. In 2018, when he took over the Portuguese third division club Casa Pia, he did not have a valid coaching license. As a result of this attack, the club was deducted six points and Amorim was provisionally suspended. The penalty was later overturned, but the Portuguese resigned nonetheless.

This was followed by his first appearance in the Portuguese top flight in December 2019. Amorim was so successful at Sporting Braga that he moved to Sporting Lisbon three months later.

Amorim has been with Sporting Lisbon for more than four years. The scoring average of 2.27 points per game is a phenomenal value. Last season, Sporting Lisbon celebrated Amorim's second title since taking over. This season, everything is going according to plan for the 20-time Portuguese champions. Each of the nine games so far has been won, with a goal difference of 30:2. Even in the Champions League, Lisbon still has everything in their own hands. Ruben Amorim's side are currently in eighth place with two wins and a draw.

Amorim prefers a 3-4-3 formation and is considered an excellent communicator. The Daily Mail quoted Portuguese football expert Tom Quandet as saying: “For example, in the press conference, he was very open and gave informative answers to all questions – even the stupid ones.” According to Quindelt, even under pressure, the Portuguese exude extraordinary joy.

The successful coach provides attacking and entertaining football, always remaining calm and diverting the team's attention even in the rare difficult situations of Sporting Lisbon.

Amorim's handling of the media was sincerely appreciated.Image: trapezoid

Lisbon fans are so passionate about their talented coach that there's even a separate fan page setting a countdown to the next press conference. But can Amorim convince people outside his home country and make his previously relatively small name more famous outside Portugal?

other candidates

One of the coaches currently without a club is former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez. The Spanish legend was approached even before Ten Witches was released. Xavi's wife Nuria Cunillera was one of those who started the rumors. In an Instagram story (no longer online), the duo's son can be seen wearing a Manchester United jersey.

Xavi remains at Barcelona until the summer of 2024 and has not joined any club since then. According to sports magazine GOAL, Xavi does not want to take over the position and wants to take a year off.

Xavi is unlikely to become Manchester United's new manager.Image: trapezoid

Gareth Southgate is thought to be another popular choice. The long-serving England manager resigned after the last European Championship and managed to lead the Three Lions to two European Cup finals despite no titles and unattractive football.

Current Brentford manager Thomas Frank has also been regularly touted as a possible successor to Den Haag's No.10. But at a press conference ahead of the Carabao Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday, Frank publicly stated that he did not want to leave Brentford at the moment.

A German is currently also being linked with a coaching job in Manchester. Edin Terzic recently stated that he is ready to take on a new assignment. After playing for Borussia Dortmund, Terzic recovered well and was linked with the England record title on several occasions.

Dortmund nearly lost in the Champions League.Image: trapezoid

club legend

One possibility that remains is that the current interim solution will see Ruud van Nistelrooy take over as Manchester coach. Ruud van Nistelrooy has already gained his first coaching experience at PSV Eindhoven in the 2022/2023 season.

Michael Carrick is a Manchester United legend who is currently excelling in England's second-highest league. Carrick has signed a new contract with Middlesbrough and is just one point away from a playoff spot. The long-time Manchester United player has already spent three games on the Red Devils sidelines as interim coach in 2021, having previously served as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's assistant.

Michael Carrick (left) and Wayne Rooney currently on the sidelines in England's second tier.Picture: www.imago-images.de

The addition of Wayne Rooney will cause a huge stir. Rooney is currently coaching Plymouth Argyle in League Two. However, the team is in the midst of a relegation battle and the Englishman's coaching career has yielded little results so far. This promise is like a miracle.