In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Marques and the second or paternal family name is Amorim.
Ruben Amorim Filipe Marques Amorim (European Portuguese) pronunciation: [ˈʁuβɛn fɨˈlipɨ ˈmaɾkɨʃ ɐmuˈɾĩ]; born 27 January 1985) is a Portuguese professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of Premier League club Manchester United.
As a footballer, Ruben Amorim played as a midfielder. He spent most of his professional career with Belenenses and Benfica, signing with the latter in 2008 and going on to win ten major titles, including three league titles, one Taça de Portugal, five Taças da Liga and one Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. He represented Portugal in two FIFA World Cups, earning a total of 14 caps.
After retiring as a player in 2017, Amorim began his coaching career at Casa Pia in 2018, before resigning that same year amid a dispute with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). He was then appointed head coach at Braga’s reserve team, popularly known as Braga B, before taking charge of the Braga senior side in December 2019, winning the 2020 Taça da Liga.
In March 2020, Amorim was appointed manager of Sporting CP, becoming then the third most expensive manager ever. In his first season, Amorim guided the club to a double by winning both the Taça da Liga and the Primeira Liga, ending the latter’s 19-year league title drought. These achievements won him the Primeira Liga’s Manager of the Year award for the 2020–21 season. He later led them to another Primeira Liga title in the 2023–24 season, being named for the second time Primeira Liga’s Manager of the Year. He left the club for Manchester United in 2024.
International career of ruben amorim
Ruben Amorim appeared for Portugal at the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in the Netherlands, as the national side eventually lost to Italy for the final berth for the following year’s Summer Olympic Games. On 10 May 2000, although not part of the senior squad’s list of 23 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he was named in a backup list of six players. On 8 June, he replaced Nani after the Manchester United player sustained a clavicle injury which ruled him out of the finals in South Africa. His senior debut came on the 15th, as he played the last five minutes of the group stage opener against Ivory Coast (0–0) in the place of Raul Meireles.
Ruben Amorim was also selected by new manager Paulo Bento for the 2014 World Cup He made his debut in the tournament on 26 June in the last group phase match against Ghana, featuring the full 90 minutes in the 2–1 win but seeing his team eliminated on goal difference.
Ruben Amorim happy with Manchester United improvements
Rome wasn’t built in a day and the same can be said about ruben amorim task at United.
Ruben Amorim has had a few bumps since becoming head coach, with one example being the league defeat to Nottingham Forest. The Reds turned things against Man City the following week.
Speaking ahead of United’s league match against Bournemouth, Amorim was asked about where he has seen improvements in the team since succeeding from Ten Hag.
Coaching Career ruben amorim
Ruben Amorim retired from professional football in 2017 and quickly earned his coaching licence with the Lisbon Football Association. As well as this, he completed a postgraduate degree in High Performance Football Training, at the Faculty of Human Motricity – an attempt by the 39-year-old to improve his body language, especially when his teammates and players who he was coaching made mistakes.
Jose Mourinho was a professor here, and Ruben Amorim did an internship under the ‘special one’, while he was the United manager in 2017. Despite the influence of his former manager Jesus and admiration for Pep Guardiola, the 39-year-old’s coaching idol was revealed as being Mourinho in an interview with Tribuna Expresso in November 2017. He said:
“There are coaches who have a way of watching the game that I like, like Guardiola, but for me, the role model is Mourinho, because I watch the ball in a way that’s more similar to Mister Mourinho, that is, he analyses the opponents very well and sets his team up, not just with a certain style of play but thinking a lot about how to adapt to win.”
After completing his education, Amorim began his coaching career at Casa Pia in July 2018, who were in the third tier of Portuguese football. After a tricky start, he changed to a back three in his third match, which helped change the fortunes of his team around. In January 2019, Casa Pia were deducted six points because Amorim was giving instructions on the touchline without having the required coaching badges. Despite the suspension of some of the bans and fines imposed on Casa Pia, the former Benfica midfielder resigned as coach of the club later that month.
Ruben Amorim reveals ultimatum issued by Man Utd
- Amorim confirmed as United’s new head coach on Friday
- Former Portugal international will officially succeed Erik ten Hag on 11 November
- 39-year-old admits he wanted to wait for job but Red Devils forced decision
- Incoming Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says he was told it was “now or never” after initially asking to succeed Erik ten Hag at the end of the season.
- Amorim was appointed as United’s new boss on Friday, penning a contract that runs until the summer of 2027. The 39-year-old will officially take charge on 11 November, prior to the last international break of the year.
- United moved quickly after deciding to sack Ten Hag in the aftermath of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham United – a result that leaves United 14th in the Premier League table with just three wins from their opening nine games – and will pay just €10m compensation to Amorim’s current employers, Sporting CP.
Personal life
- Amorim’s parents divorced when he was a year old. Amorim’s cousins, David Simão and Bruno Simão, are also professional footballers. He is godfather to Bruno Simão’s eldest daughter.
- Amorim has two children He is married to Maria João Diogo and they have one son together. Their wedding took place at the Palácio e Mosteiro de São Marcos (Saint Mark Palace and Monastery) in Coimbra Maria João Diogo has an academic degree in telecommunications engineering and has built her own business in interior design. She is sister-in-law of Antero Henrique, former sporting director of Paris Saint-Germain and responsible for the most expensive transfer ever, the transfer of footballer Neymar to the French football club for €222 million in 2017. Another sister of Maria João Diogo’s, Inês, is married to a former Braga, Sporting CP and Benfica footballer, Luís Filipe.
Manchester United
On 1 November, Premier League club Manchester United announced they had appointed Amorim as new head coach on a contract running until 2027, and that he would begin his tenure at the club on 11 November.
Amorim’s debut was a 1–1 away draw with Ipswich Town on 24 November Four days later, he secured his first win as Manchester United head coach against Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Europa League league stage. On 1 December, Amorim won his first game in the Premier League against Everton, beating them 4–0 at Old Trafford. On 15 December, Amorim became the first Manchester United manager to win his first Manchester Derby since Alex Ferguson in a 2–1 away win against Manchester City.
FAQs
What is Rúben Amorim’s playing background?
Amorim had a successful playing career as a midfielder, notably with Belenenses and Benfica in Portugal. He also represented the Portuguese national team, earning 14 caps and participating in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.
When did Rúben Amorim begin his coaching career?
After retiring from professional football, Amorim transitioned into coaching. He started with Casa Pia in 2018, then moved to Braga B, and was soon promoted to manage Braga’s first team. In March 2020, he took over as head coach of Sporting CP, leading them to their first league title in 19 years. In October 2024, he was appointed as the manager of Manchester United.
