Ruben Amorim makes Man United history as eagle-eyed fans notice one huge difference in role

It is a key change

Amorim was officially announced as the new boss of the Reds earlier today after days of speculation following the departure of Erik ten Hag.

However, he will not be ‘manager’ of United, as his official job title is ‘head coach’.

It is the first time the club has appointed a ‘head coach’ rather than a ‘manager’ and many say it is a sign of the evolution of Manchester United’s football structure.

First time Manchester United has appointed a 'head coach' rather than a 'manager'.

Amorim does not have a recruitment veto. He is a notably different profile from former #MUFC bosses, but his arrival also reflects the evolution of Manchester United's football structure.🔴 pic.twitter.com/4E8xBFyinL

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) November 1, 2024

Though the roles and responsibilities of a manager and head coach are very similar and vary from club to club, Pedro Mendonca, a football coach for UEFA explained the typical differences in an interview with Football Now.

He said: “The main difference between the coach and the manager is that the head coach's main focus is always on the team, in the game, developing the tactical and technical aspects of the game. The coach develops the training strategy and studies of the opponent. It's more focused on the game and how to win the next game.

“The manager is more focused on developing the team. Developing the aspect of the training, but also the facilities, the scouting process, and the negotiation with the players. They have a broader role than the coach.”

Amorim may find himself relieved of certain duties such as transfer policies and can concentrate more on the tactics.

In contrast, legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson was responsible for overseeing all areas of the club management, including the on-field strategies.

Several Premier League clubs have head coaches as opposed to managers including Chelsea and Liverpool while Manchester City's Pep Guardiola and Arsenal's Mikel Arteta are managers.

In the official statement, Manchester United said: “Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Ruben Amorim as Head Coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements.

“He will join until June 2027 with a club option of an additional year, once he has fulfilled his obligations to his current club. He will join Manchester United on Monday 11 November.

“Ruben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football. Highly decorated as both a player and coach, his titles include winning the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting CP; the first of which was the club’s first title in 19 years.

“Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge of the team until Ruben joins.”

Van Nistelrooy will continue to lead United for the next three games including Sunday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea.