Football writer John Duerden speaks to Portuguese manager Vitor Pereira about his compatriot Ruben Amorim's move to Manchester United.
When Ruben Amorim emerges from the tunnel at Ipswich Town on Sunday, for his first game in charge of Manchester United, he will become the seventh Portuguese to manage a club in the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho was the first, when he was appointed by Chelsea in 2004; Andre Villas-Boas, Carlos Carvalhal, Bruno Lage, Nuno Espirito Santo and Marco Silva followed in his footsteps.
With Espirito Santo, Silva and now Amorim all currently active in England's top tier, the demand for coaches from Portugal seems to be increasing. But what are the reasons for this apparent rise in popularity?
Why clubs like Portuguese coaches
An experienced Portuguese manager has offered his insight into Amorim and the rise of his compatriots.
Vitor Pereira led Porto to the Primeira Liga title in 2012 and 2013, before leaving Portugal for spells in Greece, Germany, Turkey, China and Brazil. Now aged 56, he is the current boss of Al-Shabab, the six-time Saudi Arabian champions.
Pereira said: "Portugal has many coaches spread across the different continents, with different experiences and personalities. But above all, they stand out for their competence and their ability to adapt to the environment, the culture of the countries and the clubs.
"There are many clubs that like the characteristics of the Portuguese coach, who is a strategist and develops teams that are difficult to play against."
Amorim has done 'a spectacular job'
As for Man Utd's new head coach, it is clear that Pereira is among his admirers.
"Ruben Amorim has done a spectacular job and has set the highest standards," said Pereira.
"From a tactical point of view, he's a coach who has reached the top levels of world soccer.
"He has been influenced by other coaches during his career as a coach and a player."
Amorim's influences
No one has been more influential in Amorim's career than Jorge Jesus, the head coach for almost all of his six seasons as a Benfica player - three of which resulted in Primeira Liga titles.
Jesus, another 3-4-3 advocate, is seen as more attack-minded than the traditional Portuguese coach, with an emphasis on the collective and an intense desire to win.
Well-respected, well-travelled and cool under pressure, the 70-year-old demonstrated his abilities again this year, when he led Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia to a world-record winning streak of 34 games.
For Portugal, Amorim played under Paulo Bento, a coach known for a flexible and patient attacking style and playing without fear, even against the strongest opposition.
A desire to learn from the likes of Jesus and Bento was demonstrated in 2017 when, on completing a postgraduate degree in Lisbon, Amorim earned a week-long internship under Jose Mourinho at Man Utd.
"He works really hard with a lot of attention to detail and what really stands out are his tactical and communication skills," said Pereira.
Those communication skills led to Cristiano Ronaldo, another United alumni and a team-mate with Portugal, nicknaming Amorim "the poet".
"If I have to choose one main characteristic, then it is his empathy," added Pereira. "As soon as he starts speaking, you like him."
Amorim can lead United to glory
Pereira is confident that Amorim, with all these attributes, is the man to lift Man Utd back to the top of English and European football - if he has the same kind of support he received in Lisbon.
"At Sporting, he had all the conditions that allowed him to do his job," Pereira added. "He had the confidence of everyone there, as well as a solid structure.
"If that happens at Manchester United, he will be successful. I believe that in a more evolved, higher quality environment, such as the Premier League, he will continue his development and, with the necessary conditions, he can once again produce a masterpiece, this time in Manchester."
Pereira expects that Amorim will bring his own style of play to Man Utd and look for additions that will fit into his style.
“Amorim had the time at Sporting to develop the dynamics of his 3-4-3 formation," said the former Porto boss.
"He has been able to make it consistent defensively and offensively, and it now has its own identity. He was also very assertive in his choice of players for his model of play."
Pereira's final word on Amorim should further encourage Man Utd fans as they eagerly await his first match. "He is destined for great things."
