The King is Dead, Long Live the King

Manchester United moved into a new era with the appointment of Ruben Amorim as the new head coach after Erik Ten Hag was sacked following some poor results and less than inspiring performances.

This will be the club’s seventh permanent appointment since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, with the club’s fan base seemingly split over how successful he will be and how long he will last.

Having only worked as a head coach in the Portuguese League, there is a concern that Amorim doesn’t have enough experience to manage the demands of the English Premier League and cope with the ferocious English media.

However, after waiting a week for his visa, the new boss took his first training session this week and has endeared himself to players and fans alike with his affable personality and friendly demeanor.

Many United social media accounts and fans rejoiced when the appointment was announced. In contrast, others fear for the young head coach, who, at thirty-nine, is the youngest permanent coach the club has had since Wilf McGuinness took charge in 1969 at the age of 31.

Poisoned Chalice? Maybe that’s a little harsh, but it’s certainly no easy task for the Portuguese to take on, and there will be as many cheering him on as there will be expecting him to fail.

With former players working as so-called experts, ready to criticize everything and anything, and some supporters convinced that nothing will change until the Glaziers leave, this will undoubtedly be Amorim’s biggest test to date.

He transformed Sporting Lisbon into a winning club. After years in the wilderness, he helped Sporting develop a recognizable identity with his tactical awareness and ability to get players to work for him and exceed their potential.

Many United players are often accused of the opposite by underperforming, so it will be music to the United faithful’s ears if they believe the new coach can get a tune out of his squad of superstars.

Amorim won five trophies with his former employers, including two league titles and three league cups. He also won a plethora of trophies as a player, including three league titles. He’s clearly no stranger to success, and he hopes to bring that same magic touch to the North of England.

Much like their famous home, Old Trafford, the club has been falling into disrepair over the last decade, with many pointing the finger of blame at the Glazier family for bleeding the club dry without investing back into the club’s infrastructure.

But since INEOS gained some degree of control, things are starting to change, introducing a new management team to work behind the scenes and support the coach. Dan Ashworth, Jason Wilcox, and Omar Berrada have all been head-hunted and considered the best in class in their given role.

It was that team of management that made the decision to part ways with Erik Ten Hag and appoint a coach of their own choosing. It always felt that Ten Hag lacked the full support of the management team, and they were always going to make the change unless results and performances improved dramatically

Things didn’t change or improve, and Ten Hag was shown the door. Many accused the former Ajax coach of having no game plan and making questionable team selections and substitutions.

Well, now they have their man, and they have no excuses. Ruben Amorim is being talked up as the next great coach who can bring United back to its former self and create the success that the club and fans demand. It’s time to see what effect he can have on the team’s performance, so there’s nowhere to hide now for anyone.

Amorim will be thrust into the front line on Sunday for his first game in charge against Ipswich. His team selection and formation will be analyzed and debated ad nauseam, regardless of the result.

The management team needs to step up and show why they are considered the best in class. So far, they have yet to convince anyone, least of all the fans. Now they have all the pieces in place, its their time to shine, and make the club United again.