Ruben Amorim has been in charge of Manchester United for a year but he was given his nickname by Cristiano Ronaldo long before taking the reins at Old Trafford
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts to the crowd after receiving a red card.
Cristiano Ronaldo used to call Ruben Amorim 'the poet'(Image: Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images)
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Ruben Amorim has already made it clear what he thinks of Cristiano Ronaldo giving him the nickname “the poet”.
The Portuguese boss has been at the helm at Manchester United for exactly 12 months, having left Sporting CP midway through last season to replace Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
The past year has proven more challenging than Amorim could have ever anticipated, struggling to establish any rhythm while repeatedly facing scrutiny over his tactics, along with persistent speculation regarding his future at the club.
However, one figure who has quietly voiced his support throughout this period is Portuguese and United icon Ronaldo. In another recent explosive interview with Piers Morgan, the 40-year-old Al-Nassr forward said his fellow countryman was doing a good job and couldn't perform "miracles".
In a scathing evaluation of the club's decline, he argued that while some of United’s players were good, others didn’t have the “mind” required to be a player at such a club. Of course, this wasn't the first occasion Ronaldo had publicly backed Amorim while criticising his former employers, whom he departed under acrimonious circumstances in 2022.
The pair previously played together for the Portugal national team. And during their time playing alongside each other, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner glowingly referred to Amorim as “the poet”, owing to his eloquent and striking communication skills when addressing his compatriots.
Benjamin Sesko and Ruben Amorim
Amorim is known to be a great orator
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In a previous interview with United, the charming Amorim addressed the nickname himself. When asked about it, he responded with a smile: “Yeah. But it’s like a funny thing because I like to speak - not too much - but when I speak, I think I speak from the heart. I think people feel that. It was something just to have fun.”
Despite the negativity surrounding the club, we have certainly witnessed that quality in his press conferences and post-match interviews. Amorim's comments are often refreshingly candid, occasionally to his own disadvantage, while still showing plenty of charisma - something which may have earned him more time when results were not going his way.
His accomplishments during a four-year spell at Sporting, securing two Primeira Liga championships and two Taca da Ligas, gained attention throughout Europe as clubs fought for his signature. United, desperate to bring in the promising tactician, paid extra to activate his release clause last season.
Amorim comes on for Ronaldo for the Portugese national side
Ronaldo has backed his former team-mate
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But English football proved far more difficult than he had imagined. In his debut campaign, Amorim oversaw United's worst-ever Premier League finish, languishing in 15th place. He guided them to the Europa League final last term, where his team fell short of Champions League qualification following a loss to an equally lacklustre Tottenham.
After splurging on new signings in the summer and a respectable showing in this season’s opener against Arsenal, United have reverted to their inconsistent form in the league and were shockingly knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town, pushing Amorim closer to the exit door.
With a win rate of just under 40%, he has one of the worst records of any permanent United manager since the Second World War. However, he recently achieved consecutive victories for the first time, helping his team rise to seventh in the league, which could signal a turnaround in their fortunes.
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