Amorim poised for quick return after United exit
A swift return to management is already being discussed following Amorim’s departure from Old Trafford, as uncertainty elsewhere in Portuguese football creates a potential opening.
United exit sets events in motion
According to talkSPORT, Ruben Amorim was dismissed by Manchester United on Monday after a turbulent period marked by strained internal relations. The decision came less than a day after he publicly criticised the club’s leadership following a 1,1 Premier League draw at Leeds.
His removal brought an end to a 14 month reign that began when Manchester United recruited him from Sporting Lisbon. On the pitch, results failed to stabilise, while tensions behind the scenes reportedly deepened as the season progressed.
Amorim departed with one of the weakest records among permanent Manchester United managers since the Sir Alex Ferguson era, losing 18 of his 47 league matches in charge.
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Benfica scenario takes shape
talkSPORT reports that Amorim has emerged as a serious candidate to return to Portugal with Benfica, where managerial uncertainty could soon come into play.
The Lisbon club is currently led by Jose Mourinho, who signed a two year contract in September. Despite a respectable return of 14 wins from his first 22 matches, Mourinho’s deal includes a break clause that can be activated this summer.
That clause has gained significance amid reports linking Mourinho with the Portugal national team job following the 2026 World Cup, a move that would leave Benfica searching for a replacement.
Return to familiar surroundings
A Benfica appointment would represent a return to familiar ground for Amorim, who spent nine years at the club as a player between 2008 and 2017.
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During that period, he made 154 appearances, scoring six goals and providing 14 assists. He was part of squads that captured three Primeira Liga titles, along with domestic cup honours and the Portuguese Super Cup, achievements that continue to resonate with the club’s supporters.
According to talkSPORT, Benfica officials had already identified Amorim as a potential managerial option last September, when he was mentioned internally as a possible successor to Bruno Lage.
Words that still echo in Lisbon
Speculation around Amorim’s future has been fuelled by past comments from Joao Noronha Lopes, who was a Benfica presidential candidate at the time.
Speaking to Portuguese media after attending Manchester United’s defeat to Manchester City earlier this season, Lopes said, “Ruben Amorim is the coach of Manchester United, I can’t answer that question.
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“One thing I know, Ruben Amorim will be the coach of Benfica one day.
“Joao has already shown in recent years that he is capable of changing Benfica, to make it greater and different from what it has been in recent years.”
With Jose Mourinho’s future unresolved, those remarks are again being viewed as more than mere speculation.
Sources: talkSPORT
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