While some Premier League stars not selected for international duty were jetting off for a mid-season holiday on Monday, there was one significant arrival at Manchester Airport.
Ruben Amorim touched down less than 24 hours after managing his final game at Sporting CP, flying from Lisbon with his backroom staff on Monday. He headed straight for Carrington after landing, where the men who recruited him were waiting for him.
No sooner had he vacated the car, Omar Berrada was there to give him a hearty welcoming handshake with sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical chief Jason Wilcox standing by.
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Organising a short holiday is stressful enough, but relocating home to a different country overnight is life-jolting. Take it or leave it was the message Manchester United sent to Amorim when offering the job. He knew what it would entail when he accepted.
The international break gives Amorim the chance to bed in and get used to his surroundings, which is at least something. He will not get another such breather again until March.
These two weeks are essentially Amorim’s pre-season at United, minus the transfer requirements that usually accompany such a period. Amorim is not allowed to coach training sessions until his visa is approved, with this expected to come through by next week.
That perhaps splits the fortnight nicely, as he continues to meet his new staff and players ahead of getting down to business next week in the lead up to his debut at Ipswich Town on November 24. That is when the real work begins.
Though that is not to say the 39-year-old, the Premier League’s second-youngest coach, has not already been hard at work. In fact, he made one big decision on his first day.
Ruud van Nistelrooy had guided United to a 3-0 win over Leicester City only 24 hours earlier, but was informed that his services would no longer be required. The interim head coach – who was brought in by Erik ten Hag as an assistant this summer – had wanted to stay on within Amorim’s team.
Paul Scholes had urged Van Nistelrooy to reconsider this request. “I think he should be a manager [elsewhere],” he said following the 2-0 Europa League win over PAOK last week – one of the four unbeaten games Van Nistelrooy presided over.
“He just looks like he is made to be a manager to me. I don’t think he should be anybody’s, not puppet, but I think he is better than an assistant manager.”
Amorim left Van Nistelrooy with no other option on Monday, and perhaps Scholes would say it is a decision that will benefit the Dutchman in the long-run.
He has already been linked with a potential next job, with bookmakers putting him among the favourites to fill the vacancy at Coventry City.
Van Nistelrooy oversaw 51 games as the head coach of PSV Eindhoven in the 2023/24 season, winning the Dutch cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield. There is every chance he will get the opportunity to lead a third club before long.
As for Amorim, he has decided to cut off all ties with his predecessor. The backroom baggage has been cleared out ready for his own staff to check in.
His next task will be to get his squad on board with his tactical requests in the hope he makes a flying start to his tenure ahead of the manic holiday season.
