Sporting chance

Several managers have failed to return Manchester United to their perch since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement. Ruben Amorim overcame potential bans and a Christmas row with Jesus to revive a listing Lisbon giant, but can lightning strike twice at Old Trafford? Those who know him best reveal all

- Chris Flanagan

One simple sentence gave the game away, and has become more telling with every passing year. Sir Alex Ferguson knew.

"Your job now is to stand by our new manager," the Scot told the Old Trafford crowd after his final home game as Manchester United boss, in May 2013.

That he felt it necessary to utter those words made it clear that Ferguson was concerned about whether United would remain united without him. Concerned, too, about whether United would remain United without him. In the near12 years since, the glory days have grown ever more distant. Stepping into Ferguson's shoes always felt like it might be the impossible job, and so it proved for his first five permanent successors. David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag. All tried and failed. Now it's the turn of 39-year-old Ruben Amorim, exiled on loan at Braga after a dispute with his manager, on the day that Ferguson called for unity in 2013.

Via the threat of a year-long suspension that almost derailed his coaching ambitions at the very start, and a ballsy move to Portugal's most chaotic club, Amorim's own managerial career has certainly never been boring. Ending Sporting's 19-wait for a Primeira Liga title was highly impressive, but returning Manchester United to the top will be his toughest task yet.

SHEER HARTE ATTACK

Amorim's first managerial experiences came in front of a computer, in a house on the south bank of the River Tagus, across the water from Lisbon. Growing up, he'd play video games there with pal Bruno Simao - the pair were nine when they first teamed up in Benfica's youth system.