Nachrichten

With Erik ten Hag’s future still uncertain, could Manchester United turn to a familiar hunting ground in pursuit of their next head coach?

As Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth and co packed away their notes and rolled up their black-out windows, a much-discussed meeting between the Manchester United chiefs came and went without the announcement many Red Devils supporters were waiting for.

Despite the pressure rising to almost intolerable levels – they say pressure creates diamonds but there is little to suggest his Man United side are anything more than fools’ gold – Erik ten Hag remains in situ.

For how much longer, is anyone’s guess.

There is an almost delaying of the inevitable feel about the situation enveloping Old Trafford. A stay of execution, if you will.

Another international break is only a month away. And if Ten Hag cannot right the wrongs of a dismal start to 2024/25, then a man who could escape October axe will surely not survive until December.

Though finding a replacement mid-season, when many of those potential candidates are under contract elsewhere, is likely to be easier said than done. Reports say Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi has already turned down Man United.

But, if any firm decision has to wait until next summer, will Man United be tempted to return to the old watering hole that is Sporting Lisbon? In the hope that Ruben Amorim can emulate, in the dugout, the impact Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes made on the pitch?

Record-breaking Ruben Amorim is linked with Manchester United

Amorim has been linked with Man United throughout the Ineos era. He has, however, turned down previous offers to leave his beloved Sporting in the midst of a campaign.

After ending Sporting’s 20 year wait for a league title, Amorim secured the Primeira trophy again in 2024.

And, with eight wins from eight to start their title defence, the former Portugal international could be forgiven for wanting to finish the job he started and secure a third championship in five seasons.

His irrepressible side – Sporting are inspired by the relentless goalscoring of Viktor Gyokeres, a striker Dan Ashworth knows from Brighton – can boast a 100 per cent winning record so far in 2024/25. No other team has won eight in a row in Portugal since the turn of Century.

Sporting have also scored 27 goals and conceded only two. Comfortably the best attack – and the best defence – in the division. They have even kept six clean sheets in a row.

And perhaps the most impressive aspect of Amorim’s tenure is that his Sporting team have shapeshifted over time. Starting out as a side who would often nick narrow wins – they scored nine fewer goals than Porto in 2020/21 while ending their long wait for a title – the roaring Lions now sink their teeth into their opponents and rip them limb from limb.

Sporting, also unbeaten in the Champions League so far, smashed five past Farense and six past Nacional. While Sporting appear to be improving year on year, so too does Amorim’s tactical understanding and his ability to coax every ounce out of the talent at his disposal.

United captain Bruno Fernandes is a big fan of Sporting Lisbon boss

“We have improved over the seasons in terms of the number of goals we’ve scored,” Amorim tells the club’s official website, Sporting’s relentless attacking nature justifying his ‘anti-Mourinho’ moniker.

“We won the first title by defending better, conceding few goals but not scoring many. Then, we improved, which is down to the process the quality and the characteristics of the players.”

Aged just 39, and having never coached in one of Europe’s major leagues, Amorim is likely to be viewed as a more risky appointment amongst many Man United fans than, say, a Thomas Tuchel.

But with Ineos’ Man United project one what will unfold bit by bit, over a number of years, maybe they will shy away from the success-or-bust short-termism of Tuchel in favour of an up-and-coming coach capable of growing alongside a new-look Red Devils outfit.

“If he takes the next step, I think all the qualities are there to be able to succeed in English, French, or Spanish football,” Man United captain and former Sporting talisman Bruno Fernandes told reporters a few months ago.

“Obviously, we know that the Premier League is probably the most desired. The qualities are there and he has everything to take the next step, in my opinion.”

Related Topics