It has not taken long for Ruben Amorim to get back into the conversation at the top end of European football. The Portuguese coach, who left Manchester United earlier this year after a tough stint at Old Trafford, is now reportedly one of the leading candidates to take over at AC Milan following the expected departure of Massimiliano Allegri.
From a Manchester United fan's perspective, this is a slightly strange one to process. Amorim arrived at United with a big reputation built on his excellent work at Sporting CP, but things never really clicked in the Premier League. The 3-4-3 system, the performances, the results — it just did not work the way anyone had hoped. So seeing him linked with one of the biggest jobs in Serie A so quickly does raise an eyebrow or two.
That said, it would be a little unfair to write him off entirely based on his United experience. He walked into a club in chaos, with a squad that was not built for his style and very little time to change it. Milan, while not exactly flying at the moment, is a different kind of project. They have a clear identity, a proper football structure, and a fanbase that lives and breathes the game in a way that gives any manager a proper foundation to work with.
Amorim is tactically sharp, there is no doubt about that. He clearly has ideas about how the game should be played and he is not afraid to stick to them even when it gets uncomfortable. Whether that stubbornness is a strength or a weakness probably depends on the environment he is working in. Italy could actually suit him better than England did.
Milan need someone who can get them competing at the top of Serie A again and making a proper run in Europe. Whether Amorim is that person remains to be seen, but it is hard to argue he does not deserve another shot at proving himself at this level.
Let me know your thoughts.