- Amorim was appointed United manager on Friday, taking charge later this month
- He has been given job title of head coach rather than manager – marking change
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Manchester United’s decision to appoint Ruben Amorim as head coach marks a clear change of direction under new co-owners Ineos.
All five Old Trafford incumbents since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 have kept the job title of manager – David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag.
Changes to Ten Hag’s job description and veto over transfers was discussed during a summit at his Ibiza holiday base in June before the Dutchman carried on with an extension of his existing contract.
But following Ten Hag’s sacking on Monday, Amorim has been confirmed as his successor with the title of head coach. A club statement read: ‘Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Rúben Amorim as Head Coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements.’
It is part of Ineos’ plans to create a more centralised system where the coach is a more inter-changeable cog in the wheel that has been put together in recent months following the arrivals of chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
Ruben Amorim has been appointed Manchester United head coach rather than their manager
The title marks a change made by United co-owners Ineos since they took charge of things
Amorim is the first boss since Sir Alex Ferguson left to have the title of head coach rather than manager
Wilcox, in particular, has been responsible for implementing a ‘game model’ throughout the club to ensure that all United teams – from the first-team right down to the academy age-groups – aspire to a particular playing style.
That way, any change of manager does not mean a fundamental change to the way the squad is put together or how the team plays.
It remains to be seen how much influence Amorim will have over transfers and whether he will retain the veto which has allowed all managers since Ferguson to reject a new signing if they don’t want the player.
The Portuguese coach will inherit a United squad heavily influenced by players who either played under Ten Hag at Ajax or have a background in Dutch football.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk