Ruben Amorim was sacked by Manchester United at the turn of the year following an uninspiring tenure at Old Trafford, with Michael Carrick succeeding him in the interim
Ruben Amorim looks on
Ruben Amorim was sacked by Manchester United in January(Image: PA)
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Ruben Amorim has been playing padel with Manchester City director of football, Hugo Viana. It comes just months after the Portuguese head coach was sacked by Manchester United.
Amorim was handed his walking papers by the United board in January, around a-year-and-a-half after his appointment. The 41-year-old could only manage a 15th place Premier League finish in his first season with the club, before failing to make much of a mark in 2025/26.
As a result, Michael Carrick has stepped up as interim head coach until the end of the season, managing to breathe a new lease of life into the club in such a short space of time. At present, United sit third in the Premier League standings just six points adrift of a second-place City.
And while a league title is virtually impossible this season, given that table toppers Arsenal are 15 points clear of them and just seven matches remain, the Reds look increasingly likely to secure Champions League football for the new season when 2025/26 is said and done.
Amorim, meanwhile, has been out of a job since he was given the boot at the turn of the year. However, he has been spotted enjoying a spot of padel with Viana - a man many United fans consider a mortal enemy given his role with bitter rivals, City.
However, given that Amorim and Viana were team-mates at Braga and Sporting CP before they joined their respective Manchester rivals, it should come as little to no surprise that the two still hold a stellar relationship. Pictured at Lisbon’s Padel Expo club sharing a game, Amorim beamed alongside Viana and Goncalo Oliveira.
Sharing the snap, the club's official Instagram account wrote: "We tried to contact you to strengthen our coaching staff, but it wasn’t to be this time! Thank you very much for your visit Ruben Amorim and Hugo Viana, it was a pleasure to have you at Padel Expo."
While Amorim has been enjoying time away from the beautiful game, Carrick has excelled in picking up where his predecessor left off. The Englishman has led United to seven Premier League wins from his first 10 matches in charge, and has put his name in the hat to take up permanent tenure this summer.
Given that Carrick is only on a short-term contract, a number of more experienced managers have also been linked with the post come the end of the current campaign.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been touted with a move to Old Trafford for some time now, with the chances of such a reality unfolding being boosted by the fact that the Austrian will leave Selhurst Park in a matter of months.
Elsewhere, Gareth Southgate, Roberto De Zerbi, Andoni Iraola and Luis Enrique have also been tipped to take the reins of the Reds for 2026/27.
However, should Carrick continue to impress, there's also a chance that the 44-year-old's deal with the club will be extended. Up next for Manchester United is a Premier League clash with Leeds at Old Trafford come April 13.