RUBEN AMORIM smiled when Man United’s soon-to-be manager was asked what he likes about the Premier League and said: “Everything”.
One of Europe’s most sought-after young coaches clearly wanted to expand on SunSport’s question here in Lisbon.
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Ruben Amorim revealed he likes ‘everything’ about the Premier LeagueCredit: EPA
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The Portuguese coach already has mentor Jose Mourinho’s auraCredit: Getty
But he found himself in an utterly ridiculous situation before he left the media room at Sporting’s training ground.
Amorim has promised he will be able to talk more freely about his impending job at Old Trafford after Friday’s Primeira Liga match at home to Estrela Amadora.
Yet already, it is clear that this bloke is proper box office.
And it is blindingly obvious he is relishing the chance of getting to grips with English football.
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His pre-match press conferences at the club’s training base — the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo — are such a terrific watch that on social media, there is a countdown clock for each of his media briefings.
Entertaining press conferences? Does this remind you of another coach from Portugal?
Indeed, Jose Mourinho was 41 when he announced he was the Special One after arriving at Chelsea.
Amorim will head to Old Trafford even younger, aged 39.
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Back in 2018, Amorim completed a performance internship under Mourinho at United as he got an early taste for life in ManchesterCredit: Twitter @Mourinho_Xtra
Mourinho’s birthday is on January 26, while Amorim’s is on January 27, but it looks as though he will follow in his fellow countryman’s footsteps in all sorts of ways.
Even though Amorim has been unable to confirm he is heading to England, his two press conferences since the United news emerged have been fascinating.
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Sir Dave Brailsford appears to confirm Ruben Amorim deal to Man Utd fans as he leaves Old Trafford
He has a twinkle in his eye, a good sense of humour, answers most questions in great detail and is obviously a terrific communicator in perfect English.
He will certainly need those skills at Old Trafford, in both the way he deals with the playing staff, the board members and how he talks to the fans.
Mourinho often used his press conferences — in fact he still does — with a clear plan of what he wants to say.
He releases certain messages to his own players, opponents and the supporters. Amorim is the same.
Firstly, Friday’s local derby, then Tuesday’s home Champions League game with Manchester City and the trip to Braga on November 10.
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Amorim has already won two Primeira Liga titles with Sporting but faces a huge test against Pep Guardiola’s Man City in the Champions League next TuesdayCredit: Getty
And this City match really is rotten timing for Amorim.
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Despite boasting a 100 per cent record in the league, Sporting have also done well in the Champions League and are currently unbeaten in eighth place.
But what happens if Sporting are taken apart by City?
If Amorim engineers a famous win, then this will enhance his burgeoning reputation.
But if Sporting are thrashed 5-0 and Erling Haaland scores another hat-trick, which is hardly out of the question, then United’s fans will be forced to welcome a manager who has just been out-smarted by Pep Guardiola. Not a good start.
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Ruben Amorim leaves Sporting on a high
By Charlie Wyett
RUBEN AMORIM would have preferred to leave Lisbon in a blaze of glory after winning a third Primeira Liga title.
Yet football does not work like that. And in what was surely his final game before taking charge of Manchester United, Amorim prepared to say his goodbyes at a half-empty Estadio Jose Alvalade in a League Cup quarter-final against Nacional.
Sporting won 3-1 thanks to second-half goals by captain Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Gyokeres, who scored two.
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Luis Esteves pulled back for Madeira-based Nacional.
The stadium will be a good deal more lively on Tuesday when Manchester City are here for a Champions League match — although Amorim should by then have his feet firmly under his desk at Old Trafford.
Liverpool and Aston Villa were both interested in Europe’s most sought-after coach. Even City could have been a possible destination post-Pep Guardiola.
Yet the United job is one Amorim, 39, could not turn down — even if not everyone saw it that way at Sporting last night.
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There is clearly a huge split in the Portuguese club’s fan base over their coach leaving at this stage of the season with many believing he should have seen the job through.
Yet Amorim, along with the three-man coaching team who are expected to follow him, leaves a club in a much better state than when he arrived here in 2020.
Inside the stadium, there was applause — albeit muted — when his name was read out before the game along with the line-ups.
And there did not appear to be any jeers when Amorim shuffled out from the tunnel awkwardly towards the dugout.
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So, while his departure is hard to take for some, none of the fans will forget his legacy.
This is a club which is back as the dominant force in Portugal. Even this term, Sporting have won their first nine league games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two.
They are also eighth in the Champions League table, which is one hell of an effort.
In contrast, Lisbon was not exactly hit by League Cup fever last night.
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Amorim made lots of changes, which saw Sporting’s star man Gyokeres, the former Coventry striker, start on the bench.
There was, however, a first appearance in six weeks for former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards.
He is certainly one player who has been transformed by Amorim since arriving at the club from Vitoria in 2022 and will be sorry to see the coach leave.
While he changed his team, Amorim stuck with his tried and trusted formation of a back three.
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It will certainly be something Manchester United’s fans will have to get used to over the coming months.
But looking at the Premier League table, none of them will be complaining about the change.
Amorim often talks about stability and he was asked about the prospect of leaving his comfort zone at yesterday’s press conference.
He was also quizzed about playing a part in his backroom staff enjoying life-changing pay rises by going to Old Trafford.
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As for a change in scenery, he said: “I think all coaches need that. “I don’t want to go into too much detail. Staff? We have very good conditions here.
“Six years ago we were at Casa Pia and we were almost paid to work. It’s not about money.
“When I said staff, staff involves a lot more people. Physiotherapists, wardrobe assistants. Not just the staff you’re referring to.
“It’s hard to find these environments. That was one of the reasons I always wanted to stay here.
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“It was the people I work with. Stability.
“I think that in everyone’s life there are times when we’re doing really well, but then we want something more, maybe to prove something more.”
Amorim is about to get that chance.
The problem is that inherits a dysfunctional United squad, and one without an A-lister.
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They could do with a player of the stature of the old Red Devils star who now has Sporting’s training ground named after him.
Amorim, though, will be supremely confident he can sort out this mess at Old Trafford.
If he is able to do so, this achievement would be every bit as impressive as what Mourinho managed at Chelsea.
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Mourinho won two Prem titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups in three seasons at Chelsea
Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man Utd
WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.
Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
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Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
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Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
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For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.
The former Exeter scrum-half has been University of Exeter and England U20s on top of his role as a backs and attack coach at Sandy Park.
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He is also part of the England ‘A’ coaching setup.
This season Exeter have conceded the fourth-most points in the Premiership after six matches, at an average of 29 per game.
They were the first side to lose to Newcastle in 15 months when they were beaten at Kingston Park earlier this month, while at times Harlequins cut through Exeter’s defence seemingly at will in their bonus-point win at Sandy Park on Saturday.
“I would like to thank Omar for his hard work in helping us develop a new and transitional young group of players into a competitive Premiership squad,” director of rugby Rob Baxter said.
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“However, I felt we needed to head in a new direction defensively and after some conversations between Omar and I, we agreed now was the right time for a change.”
Joaquin Buckley has never been one to hold his tongue, and he’s making sure his name is in the mix as a potential opponent for Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.
Originally, UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad was to face the undefeated Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the main event on Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. However, a toe injury has forced Muhammad out of the pay-per-view date.
While the promotion has not yet announced a plan to replace the fight, rumors have begun flying, including the thought that an interim title could be created.
Ian Machado Garry has been a popular name in discussion, but Buckley (20-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) believes he has a solid case to be inserted into the potential fight at UFC 310.
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“Hey look, I’ma let you finish, but I got something to say,” Buckley started on an Instagram video, cutting in on a post-fight news conference video of Machado Garry talking about facing Rakhmonov. “Nobody want to see that fight. People want to see knockouts. People want to see finishes, and that’s exactly what we finna bring.
“Me vs. Shavkat. He got 18 finishes, 10 subs, eight knockouts. And your boy, I got 14 knockouts, and I just knocked out my last two ranked opponents. So what you think I’m finna to do to this dude?”
Buckley is currently running hot on a five-fight winning streak, undefeated since moving to welterweight last May. Machado Garry (15-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is undefeated in his entire pro career, although he has fewer knockout victories than Buckley.
“Hey UFC, this is the fight that y’all got to make,” Buckley said. “Like I told y’all, I’m coming to take the throne, and I ain’t playing.”
In his last outing at UFC 307, “New Mansa” knocked out former title challenger Stephen Thompson in the third round. During his post-fight interview, he called out former champion Kamaru Usman.
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Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
Max Verstappen has fired back at Damon HillCredit: Splash
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Hill described Verstappen as driving like Dick DastardlyCredit: Getty
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Verstappen was not happy at the comparison with the cartoon baddyCredit: The Sun
Seething Verstappen, 27, has hit out at his “biased” and “very annoying” critics after eyebrows were raised over his driving style after a 20-SECOND penalty for forcing title rival Lando Norris off twice in Mexico last weekend.
Hill described the F1 Red Bull driver as “daft and like Dick Dastardly”.
And he questioned whether Verstappen was capable of driving fairly.
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But ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen responded: “I don’t listen to those individuals.
“I just do my thing. I am a three-time world champion. It is my tenth year in Formula One.
“I know what I am doing. Some people are being very annoying, and I don’t pay attention to them.”
Norris trails Verstappen by 47 points in the title race with 120 to race for after the Brit came second and the world champ sixth in Mexico City.
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Verstappen is due to serve a five-place grid drop for Sunday’s race in Sao Paulo for changing engine parts.
Leicester boss Amandine Miquel has confirmed that Noemie Mouchon will miss the rest of the season after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Mouchon, who joined Leicester from Reims in July, sustained the injury in training.
The 21-year-old is the fourth player in the Women’s Super League to suffer an ACL injury this season after Everton duo Aurora Galli and Inma Gabarro, and Liverpool’s Sofie Lundgaard.
“We weren’t sure straight away, but we have now assessed the injury to Noemie Mouchon. It’s probably the longest injury she could have,” Miquel said on Thursday.
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“We can’t say a time right now but she’ll be out for the season.”
While everyone in the MMA space has had their say about the upcoming UFC heavyweight title fight at UFC 309, Stipe Miocic has laid low, preparing for the biggest fight of his career.
On Nov. 16, Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) will return to the octagon for the first time in 1,330 days. It’s not just any return. It’s the return. The man who many consider to be the greatest MMA fighter ever, Jon Jones, will stand across from Miocic, who is regarded as the greatest heavyweight, inside the cage at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The UFC heavyweight title will be on the line in what could be the last fight for both Miocic and Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC).
“I’m excited, honestly,” Miocic said on “BS w/ Jake Paul.” “It’s finally here. It was supposed to happen last year, unfortunately an injury took it away, but here we are. We’re three weeks away. I’m ready, man. I’ve been pumped. I keep quiet. I focus on task at hand, just worry about my fight. That’s all I worry about.”
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Throughout the discourse about the heavyweight title picture, Miocic has largely kept his head down working. The fight was initially set to occur last November at UFC 295, but Jones tore his pectoral muscle, delaying the fight.
As a replacement for the lost fight, Tom Aspinall was crowned interim champion by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich. Aspinall, who has felt like the odd man out as he’s been denied an opportunity to unify the title, went on to record a rare interim title defense by stopping Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
Some believe Miocic, who returns from a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou, doesn’t deserve to fight for the title while Aspinall is on such a roll. The UFC decided that a “greatest vs. greatest” fight was the way to go and has stuck with it despite heavy criticism.
Meanwhile, Miocic has remained relatively quiet while preparing to defeat Jones, who became heavyweight champ by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 last March.
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With the fight now just around the corner, Miocic is confident he will be able to take control of the fight, and won’t wait around to find out what type of gameplan Jones will bring.
“Jon Jones does a lot of things good, but I have great coaches, great teammates, and they make me prepared for whatever happens,” Miocic said. “I’m not going to wait for what he’s going to do, I’m going to do what I want to do.”
At 42, Miocic knows he doesn’t have many days left in the sport. However, he’s not ready to say UFC 309 will be his last walk to the octagon.
“I don’t know,” Miocic said when asked about retirement. “I say it after every fight, I think about retiring. So, we’ll see. Right now, I’m just worried about the fight, and I can worry about that after it until it happens.”
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Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
“The highlight for me is more recent – the Barcelona game where we got beat 3-0 at the Nou Camp but then they came to Anfield in the second leg and we thrashed them 4-0. It was an incredible night.
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“From that team I loved Jordan Henderson and Virgil van Dijk – he was a massive standout at the back and is arguably the best defender in the world – but that whole team under Jurgen Klopp was just ridiculously good.”
Kella was invited to play at Anfield’s Legends Lounge before Liverpool’s first game of the season against Brentford, when he opened the club’s new trophy room and was given a signed shirt by legendary striker Ian Rush.
“That was just unbelievable,” Kella added. “But when I was there, I was speaking to a few people in there about Arne Slot, and how he had such big shoes to fill.
“I could not imagine anything more daunting than taking Klopp’s job straight after he left, but Slot has absolutely smashed it out of the park.
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“We are not just winning games, either. The results have been great but we are playing good football too.”
Kella plays a lot less football himself these days but he was in action this week in a charity game at Bootle FC to raise money for Zoe’s Place, a baby hospice in West Derby which is at risk of closure because of a lack of funding.
“It’s massive for Liverpool that this facility stays open so the whole city is doing as much as possible to raise the funds,” he explained.
“I even wore blue on the day – never again, though!”
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Chris Sutton and Brad Kella were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
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