Ruben Amorim Set for Benfica Return Four Months After Manchester United Nightmare

Ruben Amorim is closing in on the Benfica manager's job just four months after Manchester United sacked him for delivering their worst-ever Premier League campaign.

The Portuguese coach, who led United to a catastrophic 15th-place finish in May, is set to replace Jose Mourinho at the Estadio da Luz as his former mentor heads to Real Madrid.

From Old Trafford Disaster to Lisbon Redemption in Four Months

Amorim's United tenure ended in January after the club's lowest top-flight points tally in 51 years. The Red Devils failed to qualify for Europe despite reaching the Europa League final, and their season hit rock bottom when League Two side Grimsby Town knocked them out of the Carabao Cup in August.

Michael Carrick replaced Amorim and has since secured Champions League qualification, highlighting just how quickly United's fortunes turned around after the Portuguese manager's departure.

The Numbers That Sealed Amorim's Fate

United's 15th-place finish wasn't just disappointing – it was historic for all the wrong reasons:

• Lowest-ever Premier League finish in the club's history
• Worst top-flight points tally since 1975
• First time failing to qualify for any European competition since 2014
• Eliminated from the Carabao Cup by a fourth-tier opponent

The contrast with Amorim's previous success at Sporting Lisbon, where he won two league titles in four years, made his Old Trafford failure even more shocking.

Why Benfica Still Believes in a Manager United Couldn't Wait to Sack

Benfica president Rui Costa remains an admirer of Amorim despite his Manchester meltdown. Their relationship dates back to Amorim's playing days at the Estadio da Luz, where he spent nine years and won 11 trophies, including three league titles.

The former United boss is admired by club president Rui Costa despite his struggles at Old Trafford.

Costa was sporting director when Amorim played for Benfica between 2008 and 2017, making 154 appearances as a defensive midfielder. That personal connection and understanding of Portuguese football's unique demands give Amorim a lifeline unavailable to him in England.

A Hero's Welcome Awaits

Amorim's credentials in Portuguese football remain intact:

• Two Primeira Liga titles with Sporting (2021, 2023)
• Ended Sporting's 19-year title drought
• 154 appearances for Benfica as a player
• Three league titles won at the Estadio da Luz

His appointment would see him manage both Lisbon giants, having previously coached Benfica's bitter rivals Sporting. Yet his playing legacy at Benfica appears to outweigh any concerns about divided loyalties.

The Premier League Graveyard: Another Portuguese Manager Falls Short

Amorim joins a growing list of Portuguese managers who couldn't crack the Premier League code. From andre-neto" class="entity-link entity-link--player">Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea and Tottenham to Marco Silva's struggles at Everton, the pattern is becoming impossible to ignore.

The tactical sophistication that works in Portugal's more technical, possession-based league often fails to translate to England's high-intensity, physical game. Amorim's 3-4-3 system that dominated at Sporting looked pedestrian against Premier League pressing.

United's Foreign Manager Curse Continues

Manchester United's post-Ferguson era reads like a graveyard of international reputations. Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and now Amorim all arrived with stellar CVs only to leave with their legacies tarnished.

The club's unique pressures – from its demanding fanbase to its dysfunctional boardroom – seem particularly hostile to managers without deep Premier League experience. Carrick's immediate improvement after taking over suggests the problem might be as much about cultural fit as tactical ability.

What Happens Next

Amorim's expected appointment at Benfica represents a chance to rebuild his reputation in familiar surroundings. With Mourinho heading to Madrid and Marco Silva likely to extend his Fulham contract, Benfica's choice seems clear.

For Manchester United, Amorim's rapid rehabilitation elsewhere will sting. While they prepare to confirm Carrick permanently after securing Champions League football, their former manager's success in Portugal would raise uncomfortable questions about whether the problem was the coach or the club.