The new era at Manchester United has arrived as Ruben Amorim finished his Sporting commitments, ready to take over a gigantic job with equally big a reward if he succeeds.
Sporting Lisbon released a statement confirming Amorim’s departure a few days ago and with that, United had their man tasked with following Erik ten Hag.
The expectations are high because Ruben Amorim’s pedigree, at just 39, speaks for itself, especially his spell at Sporting Lisbon where he took a fallen giant and restored it to former glories.
However, any manager would say that they might be the main man, but they’re never the only one, and in Amorim’s case, that is true as well.
Meet Carlos Fernandes, the 29-year-old who is set to join Amorim at Old Trafford if history repeats itself-
Who is Carlos Fernandes
There is a new wave of coaches and managers coming who didn’t really have a sparkling playing career but made their way into coaching through good, old-fashioned learning on the pitch with other managers.
Carlos Fernandes is in that wave of new coaches as he has been in the Portugal coaching landscape since the age of 23 when he was at Casa Pia.
In fact, he came through Benfica’s coaching system and was an assistant for their youth sides as soon as he turned 18, and during that time, a certain Ruben Amorim was in the senior team at the club.
After a spell as the assistant manager for the youth teams, he became the manager for a season in 2017/18 which is also when Amorim hung up his boots to pursue a coaching career.
Fernandes caught Amorim’s eye and he made him his assistant coach at his first managerial job at Casa Pia, at the age of just 23.
Since that partnership began, Fernandes has followed Amorim to every club as his assistant manager, with stops at Braga B, Braga, and now the assistant manager at Sporting Lisbon for the last four years.
Born in Portugal in 1994, he is an example of working up the ladder in the traditional way with no top-level playing career to speak of.
Carlos Fernandes is Man Utd-bound
If history repeats itself after Amorim joins United, then Carlos Fernandes could join him since he has been Amorim’s assistant for his whole managerial career.
The seeds have already been sown as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s departure was confirmed by the club, along with three other staff members.
It is extremely rare for a new manager to not bring at least some of his own people and in this case, this relationship probably stretches over a decade considering Amorim’s time at Benfica.
Rene Hake has been sacrificed and Adelio Candido will probably take his place and with Van Nistelrooy’s departure, the place of the second assistant is open.
Therefore, Fernandes would be an easy and straightforward addition to the Man Utd coaching staff along with Amorim.
Every manager United have appointed after Sir Alex Ferguson has brought in his own assistants. Jose Mourinho brought a whole army of coaches alongside his assistant.
There has been no suggestion so far that Amorim is looking to go to those extremes but it would be a surprise if long-time assistant Fernandes doesn’t join him. CNN Portugal reports that he intends to bring three for now- Carlos Fernandes (29), Adelio Candido (28), and Jorge Vital (63).
The United coaching staff is about to get even younger!
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
