Ruben Amorim is football management’s rising star, blazing a path to Manchester United already at the age of 39.
Managerial wonderkid Ruben Amorim is Manchester United’s new head coach, the club’s youngest boss since Sir Matt Busby.
Manuel Ugarte has even admitted the squad were surprised to learn Amorim is so young, and their surprise may be nothing in comparison to the shock the coach’s players had at his first club.
Amorim began his coaching journey in 2018 at third-tier Portuguese side Casa Pia, when he was only 33. And one of his first ever players has been speaking out on his appointment at Manchester United.
Jose Embalo on Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim’s striker at Casa Pia was Guinea-Bissau international Jose Embalo, a striker who has since played in Poland, Armenia, and Malaysia among others.
Embalo regards the highlight of his career as his time spent under Ruben Amorim, being blown away by his insights.
He told A Bola: “It was incredible… incredible. Sometimes I looked at him and thought to myself… ‘But wasn’t this just a full-back who played for Benfica?’ How does he know so much?
“I’ve had many coaches in my career, some very good, some average, some bad, but Amorim is special.”
Embalo elaborated that he believes Amorim is particularly effective working with strikers.
He said: “Amorim is special because of his strategy in the game. His secret was the confidence he had in the forwards.
“He knows very well that there are bad phases and, sooner or later, a good phase will come, but for that to happen you have to be serious and hard-working. That message was well conveyed.”
Embalo backs Hojlund to emulate Gyokeres
With this in mind, Embalo believes Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund will thrive under Amorim’s tutelage.
He points to his work with Viktor Gyokeres, who he believes has exceeded expectations, with 63 goals in 66 games for Sporting so far.
Embalo explained: “I have always said that any player under Amorim’s control reaches an incredible level in all aspects of the game.
“Gyokeres already had quality and the coach only enhanced the best he had. But we have to admit that he surpassed all limits. What a great forward! But I was Amorim’s first Gyokeres.”
He added of Hojlund: “He is already a top player, but Amorim will bring it all together. And he will improve a lot, I’m sure.
“He will be different. And he will find, with his characteristics, a strategy to shine. That’s what he always does with all forwards. He will be bigger.”
Embalo would love to play for Amorim again
Embalo, now 31, is currently a free agent, after a spell in China. There is no real prospect of him playing for Manchester United, but he admits he would run to Old Trafford in a flash, if Amorim called for his help.
He comments: “Obviously it would be a dream (laughs). Of course. At almost 32 years old… even if it was just to play 10 minutes, score a goal and give Amorim a victory (laughs).
“It would be spectacular. It was a dream, but everything is just a dream… I wish him the best in the world.”
Don’t fire up the transfer rumour mill on this one. What it shows instead, is the passion Amorim instills in his players, that Embalo still cares so deeply, five years on since he last played under him.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
