Amorim 2.0: One of “best coaches in the world” is Man Utd’s new top target
The Manchester United job is difficult enough – try not to make it even harder for yourself.
That would be the advice Ruben Amorim should have heeded in his final days in charge, having made a string of head-scratching, in-game decisions.
Be it substituting goalscorer Joshua Zirkzee at half-time against Wolverhampton Wanderers, replacing Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez with just minutes to play against Newcastle United, or even refusing to deploy a back four when chasing the game against ten-man Everton at Old Trafford.
While the Portuguese coach has steered the club into sixth in the Premier League, the past month has showcased a string of missed opportunities, winning just one of the last five home league outings, a run that included largely favourable opposition.
Rather than letting things derail further, INEOS have struck swiftly and ruthlessly, with all eyes on just who will be named the 40-year-old’s long-term successor.
Top target emerges in race to replace Amorim this summer
Much like with the case of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sackings in 2018 and 2021, respectively, United look to be seeking an interim, caretaker solution, before settling on a permanent appointment ahead of next season.
It would appear that that man Solskjaer is leading the race for the temporary role, with former colleague Michael Carrick also vying for his own Old Trafford homecoming.
In the case of Solskjaer, in particular, he is believed to be hopeful of doing enough to secure the job for the long-term, although the plan appears to be to go in a different direction, regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season.
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According to TEAMtalk, a new top target – alongside Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner – has emerged in the form of Marseille boss, Roberto De Zerbi, with the Italian previously interviewed for the role back in the summer of 2024.
The admiration from those at Old Trafford has remained since then, with De Zerbi himself said to be ready to leave France, viewing United as the perfect next step in his career.
It would appear that INEOS aren’t alone in their interest in him, however, with the 46-year-old also a candidate to potentially replace Thomas Frank at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Why De Zerbi could be another Amorim at Man Utd
Whether Amorim was aware of what was coming at that stage remains to be seen, although his explosive final outburst following the Elland Road stalemate highlighted his fractured relationship with the INEOS regime.
The former Sporting CP reiterated his desire to be the manager of Manchester United, and not the ‘head coach’, while pointing to the need for those above him to do their jobs.
Subsequent reports have suggested there was a schism regarding the club’s transfer dealings, with Amorim having been keen to sign the Aston Villa pairing of Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez, ahead of Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens.
A heart on his sleeve kind of coach with a radical tactical approach, there is certainly a shared likeness between the ex-United man and his potential replacement, De Zerbi, with the former Brighton and Hove Albion maverick also likely to go toe to toe with the Old Trafford hierarchy.
Indeed, part of the reason for his exit from the Amex in 2024 came as a result of a significant disagreement over the Seagulls’ transfer policy, with recruitment led by those above De Zerbi at the club.
An early departure at the Stade Velodrome also looked on the cards back in March, with De Zerbi refusing to take training following a loss to Reims, with the enigmatic coach seemingly always on the brink of exploding.
Amorim’s First & Last Man Utd XIs
vs Ipswich
Position
vs Leeds
Onana
GK
Lammens
Mazraoui
RCB
Yoro
De Ligt
CB
Heaven
Evans
LCB
Martinez
Amad
RWB
Dalot
Casemiro
CM
Casemiro
Eriksen
CM
Ugarte
Dalot
LWB
Shaw
Fernandes
RAM
Dorgu
Garnacho
LAM
Cunha
Rashford
ST
Sesko
In terms of tactics too, his approach has irked those in France. While not wedded to a back three like Amorim, the former Sassuolo man does appear to be confusing his playing squad, having repeatedly flitted between different tactical approaches and set-ups.
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That was noted by Louis Vix on the recent episode of the Totally Football Show, with the Canal+ journalist describing De Zerbi’s team as “unpredictable” and capable of moving from one extreme to the other, while noting that his “constant tactical changes” are putting his players in “difficult situations”.
Such criticism certainly should have a few alarm bells ringing, considering the likeness to Amorim, even with De Zerbi hailed as “one of the best coaches in the world” by his Marseille group.
United’s squad can’t afford another chaotic, combustible coach, and nor can INEOS, with the Italian arguably more likely to plunge the Red Devils further into crisis, rather than steadying the ship as needed.
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