Ruben Amorim is the next man up at Manchester United to try and steer the club back to the glory days at a job where many before him have failed.
From the “Chosen One” David Moyes to club legends, serial winners, master tacticians, and the next big things, nobody has been an unqualified success at Manchester United.
In some ways, that makes it a difficult job where everyone has failed but from the other perspective, the stage is set for Ruben Amorim to immortalise himself and cement a legacy.
Italian journalist Gabriele Marcotti reveals he’s already in a different role than all of his predecessors so the process of this being a genuine “new era” has begun already.
Ruben Amorim’s role at Man Utd different from previous managers
Every other manager who preceded Amorim at Old Trafford had to contend with one challenge that was internal, in addition to numerous external ones.
That was working with the Glazers and their team of executives who had, in many cases, even less experience in football than the manager at the time.
The problem kept rearing its head until John Murtough’s departure but it wasn’t before United course-corrected to the other extreme of that same spectrum.
From refusing to sign many players for the likes of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, they gave carte blanche to Erik ten Hag to do whatever he wanted.
Therefore, it was notable in Ruben Amorim’s announcement that he comes in as the “Head Coach” instead of “Manager.
Gabriele Marcotti has given an insight on how that separated him from his predecessors while talking on ESPN.
He said: “First of all, Amorim, unlike the managers who came before him, he’s not going to be making decisions on his own. He’s not going to be going out there and being asked, ‘Who do you want to sign?’
“He’ll have input but that’s why they have Dan Ashworth, Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada, and Sir Dave Brailsford, they are very involved. All these people will be part of the process and they need to be because United will be very close to breaching FFP rules.
“The good news for them is the expiring contracts of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Christian Eriksen. Fitting new additions into that salary structure will be the challenge.”
A welcome change as long as balance is maintained
It couldn’t be clearer that this is the arrangement Ineos wanted all along and they were effectively saddled with Ten Hag and his demands until they had a reason to fire him.
The summer window, where Ten Hag wanted Sofyan Amrabat to return, was the first sign of the structure having cracks under the Dutchman.
Jason Wilcox vetoed the move and United signed Manuel Ugarte instead. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s handling of Ugarte proved Ten Hag’s handling of him played a role in his sacking as he never seemed to get over the fact that he was overruled on this transfer.
United are stuck with expensive flops like Antony because the manager gave the club his prime target and instead of working with him for alternatives, they panicked and gave Ajax a blank cheque to sign him.
With the new executive structure and Amorim knowing exactly what he’s walking into, those problems will be reduced and that’s a long overdue change.
On paper, it reduces his responsibilities and “power”, but if that allows him to do what he does best, which is improve the players on the training pitch, then that’s the ideal case scenario.
Manchester United, welcome to the 21st century!
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