How Manchester United could line up under Amorim: The biggest ...

Ruben Amorim has agreed to become Manchester United’s next permanent head coach, taking over from Erik ten Hag, who was sacked on Monday.

The 39-year-old is expected to stay with Sporting Lisbon for their next three games and arrive in Manchester during the November international break. He has a €10million (£8.4m, $10.9m) release clause in his contract, but also a 30-day notice period. United hope they can pay an extra €1m to bring him to Old Trafford before that 30-day period is up. 

This would mean Ruud van Nistelrooy will be in charge of first-team duties for the games against Chelsea in the Premier League, PAOK in the Europa League, then Leicester City in the Premier League. In Van Nistelrooy’s first match in charge on Wednesday, United thrashed Leicester 5-2 in the Carabao Cup to reach the quarter-finals. 

Amorim is regarded as one of Europe’s most sought-after young managers, having led Sporting to their first Primeira Liga title in 19 years in 2021, before winning it again in 2024. In addition, he won the Taca da Liga — the Portuguese League Cup — twice with Sporting, in 2021 and 2022. He also has a third Taca da Liga title from his previous club, Braga, in 2020. Amorim coached Braga for 13 games before Sporting paid €10million to acquire his talents. The fee remains the fifth-highest transfer fee paid for a manager.

Earlier this year, he was touted as a possible successor to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, and this April, he used a pre-match press conference to apologise to Sporting fans for meeting representatives from West Ham United about taking over from David Moyes. 

Amorim’s attractive style of possession-based football, with a multifaceted attacking approach and resolute defence, seemingly made it a case of when rather than if he would become a Premier League coach. His imminent arrival at Old Trafford will make him the sixth person to take permanent charge at United since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Amorim has a distinctive way of playing, so what does that mean for the squad? This is a look at which players may benefit from his tactical approach and who might get shuffled around. 

First of all, here’s an explainer of Amorim’s tactical approach at Sporting

Amorim has managed Sporting Lisbon for four-and-a-bit seasons and used a back three for nearly every match in charge. He is known for coaching a well-organised 3-4-3 which presses high and defends stubbornly. 

The above formation takes Sporting’s starting lineup from their most recent league fixture, a 3-0 victory over Famalicao on October 26.

Sporting typically start their attacks through the middle, with the wide centre-backs, Goncalo Inacio and Zeno Debast, and the central midfielders, Daniel Braganca and Hidemasa Morita, looking to play in the attacking midfielder/wide forward ahead whenever possible. The centre-forward has a licence to drift wide during moves, allowing the forward closest to him to push up and lead the attack.

The purpose of Amorim’s back three is twofold. First, it helps to create numerical superiority when the team has to defend, as all three centre-backs and at least one defensive midfielder stay behind the ball whenever the team attacks, limiting the space opponents can counterattack through. Second, the trio of defenders helps with Sporting build-up play when in possession. The team’s goal kicks often see the central centre-back push up to join the midfielders while the two wing-backs drop deep.

It helps to create almost a 4-3-3 shape, with the intention of getting the ball into the central midfielders, who will then look for the advancing full-backs on the break. 

Amorim’s use of wing-backs has gradually changed over his time at Sporting. Where they were first asked to get up and down the flanks and supply crosses for the forwards, they have slowly taken on more responsibilities in the half-spaces (as a response to breaking down teams who were content to defend deep and frustrate.) The Portuguese coach is fond of having one speedy crosser on one wing, while the opposite flank is more comfortable passing and receiving the ball in tight spaces.

Central midfielders in Amorim’s 3-4-3 are chosen for their athleticism and tackling qualities first and foremost. Former Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha was a favourite of the coach before Manuel Ugarte succeeded him. The Uruguayan’s departure to Paris Saint Germain in 2023-24 led Amorim to iterate things again with Morten Hjulmand. The 25-year-old Denmark international is a defensively-minded player, but also a superior progressive passer to those who came before him. His introduction to the Sporting starting XI has seen the team develop from a high-octane group of vertical passers and tough tacklers to one that can better use possession as a defensive tool, smothering opponents with considered passing and long periods of possession. 

When Sporting defend, they do it as a team. The two forwards behind the striker are joined by one of the midfielders (in recent games, this is often Morita) to block off easy passes through the middle. The team presses well and has a good approach to counter-pressing — the Sporting player who loses the ball is often backed up by one extra player when they try to get it back.

The intention is to form a “snow plough” of sorts, forcing the ball wide. If opposition teams manage to get the ball down the flanks, then Amorim’s side tends to collapse upon the runner, with a wing-back and wide centre-back either making the tackle or forcing the ball out of play for a throw-in.

There are many more layers to this team but to sum up: Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon side runs hard, tackles hard, and looks to create a numerical advantage whenever defending or attacking.

If taking on Erik ten Hag’s United eventually meant entering a counter-attacking slugfest, facing Amorim’s United would be more like trying to get a seat on public transport during rush hour. Even if you succeed, you’re likely to leave with a few digs on you and some mild regrets.

The players most likely to benefit from Amorim trying this at United are…. the runners

The good news for United is they won’t have to spend £50m+ to reunite Amorim with one of his former players, as Manuel Ugarte is already in the building. The 23-year-old has had a slow start to life in the Premier League, with Ten Hag believing he needed additional time to adjust to his game model. Ugarte’s prior knowledge of Amorim’s system, coupled with his tenacious tackling and willingness to cover larger areas of space, mean he should — eventually — find his way into the starting line-up. Kobbie Mainoo could perform a similar role to Morita in the Sporting team, contributing to build-up play and pushing up to help with the side’s counter-pressing efforts. Casemiro‘s veteran experience and work as a defensive midfielder means he will likely have an important role in United games for the remainder of the season. 

Leny Yoro is yet to make his proper United debut, but his athleticism and ability to defend larger areas of space will make him important as one of United’s three centre-backs when he’s ready. Lisandro Martinez’s qualities on and off the ball should make him an ever-present. (Although his discomfort when defending larger spaces is a slight worry.) 

In attack, Rasmus Hojlund is the most likely choice to lead the line, given his speed and ability to run the channels. United fans will hope Amorim can shape the Denmark international into a more rounded forward, much like he did for Viktor Gyokeres. Bruno Fernandes can be one of the attacking midfielders behind, accompanied by another attacking option. 

Andre Onana should also benefit.  Too often United fans have watched the Cameroonian with the ball at his feet, only to punt the ball long in search of a striker by the halfway line. Amorim’s well-drilled approach to build-up in central areas could see the goalkeeper make more short passes, baiting in the opposition’s press before funnelling the ball to the wing-backs. 

United’s academy could play a significant role in this tactical transformation, with Amorim looking for internal solutions to personnel problems. We are not saying Harry Amass is getting thrown into the starting XI immediately but Amorim has a track record for developing young talent at Sporting — including Inacio, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Mendes and Ousmane Diomande. 

There might be a few United players finding themselves out in the cold

Amorim’s preference for certain groupings means a handful of players may move to the bench because they are the odd ones out. Matthijs de Ligt has some potential as the middle centre-back in a 3-4-3. However, Harry Maguire’s previous experience in back threes for England and Hull means both men could be vying for one position. 

United’s injured affected months at full-back under Ten Hag take on another dimension if Amorim is to use wing-backs. The incoming coach has two options in the immediacy: either continue with Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui on either flank or try a player such as Alejandro Garnacho or even Antony to provide width in a more experimental configuration. Christian Eriksen has been one of United’s better players this season, but his defensive weaknesses may cause him to fall behind Casemiro and others as central midfield options. When fit, Mason Mount is more likely to be seen as an attacker than someone who works in the central midfield pivot. It is a role better suited to his skillset, but one that will see him face stiffer competition for minutes. 

If Fernandes is to be one of the attackers behind the central striker, then Amorim faces a choice. Either pair him with a direct goalscorer such as Garnacho or Marcus Rashford or play one of Mount or Amad Diallo as an auxiliary creator who can work in the tight spaces. There is a surplus of attackers for a limited amount of roles; substitutions and player rotation will be important as the months advance. An Amorim United XI with Joshua Zirkzee as the striker could be very different to one with Hojlund leading the line, due to the Dutchman’s superior link-up play.

A further concern for Amorim’s 3-4-3 comes from United’s limited pace in central areas. It needs athletic players willing to press and counter-press as a collective to work. Multiple United managers have tried to create a squad capable of pressing high consistently, only to eventually compromise on their methods and fall back on the side’s counter-attacking threat. 

If Amorim is to be a medium-to-long-term success at the club, he will have to buck that trend. 

Amorim’s style is not an immediate fit for United’s current squad. But it would be unwise for him to compromise

Ten Hag’s final months in charge of United saw the team devolve into a tactical malaise. It boasted several players who had impressed under the Dutchman at Ajax, many of whom were then asked to play in a manner unsuited to their strengths. Ten Hag’s mid-season proclamation that United would “never” play like the Eredivisie side may have been a (misguided) attempt to tell fans that United wouldn’t pass the ball for the sake of it, and there has been a bizarre lack of conviction to their play for much of the calendar year. 

United were most dangerous on the counter-attack, but lacked the proper tools to protect against opponents trying counter-attacks of their own. They attempted to press high up the field, but had a squad that 1) lacked effective pressers in the forward areas and 2) lacked athletic midfielders and defenders to cover the large (and often impossible) spaces the team left in central midfield. Ten Hag’s “game model” was challenging to decipher. There were question marks over whether such a style of play could work against the best teams in England and Europe.

Amorim’s arrival means United have an opportunity to re-establish who they are and what style of football they want to play in the foreseeable future. It will likely require several transfer windows worth of churn to get the squad aligned with the coach’s desires, but the confusion that has reigned over the club could be put away with. 

(Top photos: Getty Images)