It is not just Ruben Amorim’s impressive trophy haul that alerted Manchester United to the talents of the former Sporting CP manager.
Amorim, while ending Sporting’s two-decade wait for Primeira Liga glory, has also proven himself to be a rather elite developer of young talent.
No wonder Manchester United – a club with a proud tradition when it comes to turning rising, homegrown stars into household names – decided that Ruben Amorim would be the right man to build on the foundations Erik ten Hag laid down with regards to the club’s latest generation of Carrington kids.
As Amorim made a name for himself in the dugout of Braga, it was a young Joao Palhinha who secured their first win away at Benfica in 65 years.
Matheus Nunes, Pedro Porro, Matheus Fernandes and more all secured big-money moves to the Premier League after honing their talents on Amorim’s watch too, while it was he who helped set rampaging left-back Nuno Mendes on his way to Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG star Nuno Mendes applauds Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United switch
Amorim handed Mendes his senior debut back in 2020.
Less than 50 games later, the Sporting academy graduate was on his way to the French champions to the tune of £34 million.
And, speaking ahead of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League clash with Poland on Friday night, Mendes could not speak highly enough of the man hoping to succeed where so many before him have failed at Old Trafford.
“I think I just have to congratulate him,” Mendes tells reporters. “I think he is a coach who has done everything for football and is having great success in football. But I think he has the potential to do much more than what he has already done.
“I just want to wish him the best of luck, both to him and to the [Portuguese] players and coaches abroad.
“I think it is very important [that Amorim succeeds at Man United] and that is all I have to say.”
Braga president says United have landed a ‘special’ coach
Ruben Amorim was pictured at Man United for the first time on Monday, greeted by Dan Ashworth, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox as Ineos secure the final piece in their structural jigsaw.
Amorim, who leaves Sporting at the top of the Portuguese table with 11 wins out of 11, will lead United out for the first time when Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town arrive at Old Trafford after the November international break.
“I already knew he was capable of this,” smiles Antonio Salvador, the Braga president who gave Amorim his big break in management, speaking to O Jogo.
“I knew he was a coach who would be unique. Special.
“Braga is proud of Ruben Amorim for having started here and having the success he has. He deserves everything that is happening to him. I am also proud of all the coaches who have passed through Braga and who are now at major European clubs, at major world clubs.
“This is the path that Braga has taken. [Amorim’s appointment at Manchester United] is recognition of the work and affection that Ruben has shown here in Braga.
“Congratulations to him.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
