As Ruben Amorim closes in on the Manchester United job, the Premier League will soon receive another member to their ever-growing ’30 club’.
There was a time when the prospect of a manager taking charge of one of England’s top-flight clubs before celebrating his 40th birthday would have seemed rather fanciful.
But with the likes of Julian Nagelsmann laying the foundations for baby-faced coaches and dismissing the argument that experience equals success, Ruben Amorim will become the fourth current Premier League boss who’s age begins with a ‘three’.
The Sporting Lisbon boss has verbally agreed to take over at Man United. Talks between the two clubs are now ‘very advanced’, according to Portuguese publication Record.
But while Amorim may be 15 years younger than the man he will replace – Manchester United finally sacked Erik ten Hag after defeat at West Ham United – the former Portugal international is still a relative elder statesman compared to the man in the Brighton and Hove Albion dugout.
Brighton boss reacts to Ruben Amorim’s likely Manchester United move
“He is eight years older than me!” Brighton and Hove Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler laughs during his Tuesday press conference, quizzed on Amorim’s potential arrival in English football.
“I think that he achieved already great things in Portugal. I saw some games and he plays incredible football.
“He is very dominant in possession.”
Hurzeler, officially the youngest manager ever appointed by a Premier League club, helped pile further pressure on the now-departed Ten Hag in August.
The Red Devils suffered their first defeat of the 2024/25 top-flight campaign at The Amex, Joao Pedro’s 95th minute header adding to Ten Hag’s frustrations after Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho saw a goal chalked off by the most unfortunate of offside calls.
But, while Hurzeler may have enjoyed a flying start to life at Brighton with only one league defeat in nine, the former St Pauli boss feels he is in no position advising Amorim of how best to settle into life on British soil.
“I am not in a position to give him advice! If he needs advice, he might call Pep [Guardiola] or Jugen Klopp or somebody like that!,” Hurzeler adds. “I am also in a learning process. I try to give my best.
“We’ll see what happens in Manchester. It is always great to face new coaches and complete with them, and this will be another challenge.”
Paul Scholes desperate for change at Old Trafford
Man United’s approach, under Ineos, was always likely to revolve around young, ambitious coaches. If they can bring about an exciting, possession-based style and a proven track record when winning titles, then all the better.
Man United reportedly looked at Enzo Maresca before his arrival at Chelsea, and that itself now feels like a clue as the direction Ineos were always heading post-Ten Hag.
“It has been a struggle to find the right man,” United legend Paul Scholes tells the official Premier League website.
“Jose Mourinho, [Louis] Van Gaal, obviously David Moyes, and then Ten Hag came in from Ajax. It was a little bit of a risk but there have been four or five different people where you think you have always got a chance [of succeeding] with them.
“Now, they are onto the next one. Whoever that may be, he has to be best in class. That is what Manchester United need.
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