Ruben Amorim reveals reason why Cristiano Ronaldo gave him the nickname 'the poet' in revealing first Man Utd interview

11/16/2024 08:50 AM

RUBEN AMORIM has lifted the lid on why Cristiano Ronaldo referred to the new Manchester United boss as “the poet”.

Amorim arrived at Old Trafford on Monday and met with members of the club’s hierarchy having been named Erik ten Hag‘s successor.

The 39-year-old gave his first interview as Man Utd manager on Friday.

And he’s already been encompassed the club’s folklore, walked the iconic grounds, and even gatecrashed a fan tour of Old Trafford.

While Amorim is known for his work ethic, his effective and no-holds-barred communication skills earned him the nickname "poet" from Ronaldo.

When asked about it, Amorim told MUTV: “Yeah. But it’s like a funny thing because I like to speak.

“Not too much but when I speak, I speak, I think I speak from the heart.

“‘I think the people feel that it was something just to have fun.”

Amorim is just nine days older than Ronaldo and his playing debut came just months after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner joined United in 2003.

The pair appeared together on multiple occasions for Portugal between 2010 and 2014 before Amorim hung up his boots to embark on a career in the dugout.

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After spells at Casa Pia and Braga, Amorim would join Ronaldo’s boyhood club Sporting Lisbon.

In his first full season at the club he led Sporting to their first league title in almost two decades, before adding a second last season as interest from Premier League clubs grew.

He leaves the Portuguese giants with a perfect record of 11 wins from 11 league games this season — yet the lure of Old Trafford was too good to turn down.

Amorim has vowed to lead United into a new era of no-fear football.

He added: "United are the engine of the Premier League. We know that we are the engine of the football.

"I'm really honoured to be here. It was my only choice because I feel how big this club is. I will do everything for the team.

"I will defend my players if I have to and I will do everything to put this club in the place it belongs. And I believe we are going to succeed."

Amorim is the sixth manager to try and haul United to their feet after the dismal decade since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

He was also nicknamed 'Mourinho 2.0' after the young coach spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United's Carrington training base in 2018.

Amorim met Mourinho threw his brother-in-law Antero Henrique – a former Porto communications director who worked with Jose during his 'Special One' years at the Estadio do Dragao where he lifted the Champions League in 2004.

Ironically, Henrique was also targeted by United as a sporting director before switching their attention to Dan Ashworth.

But Ashworth should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: "Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique."