Ease on the ball, urgency off it, width through the wing-backs, relentless third-man runs down the middle, and a freak-of-nature frontman — Ruben Amorim ’s Sporting CP tore through Liga Portugal for over two seasons.
Yet, four months into his reign at Manchester United, the 40-year-old tactician finds himself at a crossroads. Old Trafford is restless. The club is 13th in the Premier League standings, and the symphony of Lisbon now sounds more like discord in Manchester.
Whether he likes it or not, another test looms for Amorim on Sunday, February 16, when he faces a club now bound to him by a season gone awry — Tottenham Hotspur. Before that showdown, here is a closer look at Amorim’s journey and his life beyond the tactics.
Amorim’s rise in the managerial world has also made him one of the best-paid young coaches. His salary at Sporting CP was around £3 million per year, but his move to Manchester United has significantly increased his earnings.
Now earning an estimated £6.5 million annually at Old Trafford, Amorim ranks among the top 15 highest-paid managers in world football, reportedly sitting in 12th place—above the likes of Xabi Alonso, Simone Inzaghi, and Thomas Tuchel.
Pep Guardiola leads the list with £20 million per year, but Amorim’s deal is believed to include lucrative bonuses tied to Manchester United’s performance. Should he guide the club back into the top four or end their trophy drought, his earnings could climb even higher.
In 2024, it was estimated his net worth at around £13 million, built from both his playing days and his managerial career.
The woman behind Amorim’s success
Amorim has been married to Maria Joao Diogo since 2013, after a grand wedding in Coimbra attended by some of Portugal’s biggest football names. The couple prefers to keep their personal life private, though their bond extends beyond just marriage—Maria is an accomplished interior designer and businesswoman.
Together, Amorim and Maria have two children, and despite his ever-growing footballing commitments, he remains deeply involved in family life. Through marriage, Amorim is linked to football royalty. His wife’s family includes former Benfica defender Luis Filipe and ex- Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Antero Henrique, best known for orchestrating Neymar ’s record-breaking transfer to Paris.
She co-founded the interior design firm Dois Tons in 2019 alongside Raquel Viana, the wife of Sporting’s former director of football, Hugo Viana. Now, as fate would have it, Raquel and Maria are set to reunite in England, with Hugo Viana expected to take over as Manchester City ’s new director of football.
Controversies and challenges
While Amorim has largely avoided personal scandals, his managerial career has not been without drama. His rapid rise at Braga led to a legal battle over coaching qualifications, with Sporting accused of poaching him improperly. However, the matter was eventually settled.
Then there was the West Ham situation. In 2024, while Sporting were still in the thick of their season, Amorim was spotted in London, reportedly meeting with the Premier League club about a potential move. The timing couldn’t have been worse, and Sporting fans weren’t happy. The backlash forced Amorim to publicly apologise, admitting that the way it played out was a mistake.
On the pitch, Amorim’s reluctance to alter his tactical philosophy has drawn criticism. His rigid 3-4-3 system worked wonders in Portugal, but its effectiveness in England remains under scrutiny. His struggles at United have led to questions about whether his methodology is adaptable to a league with relentless competition and diverse tactical challenges.
For now, Amorim remains steadfast in his vision. Whether he turns United’s fortunes around or becomes another cautionary tale of a manager lost in the Old Trafford pressure cooker remains to be seen.
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