Ruben Amorim: Crystal Palace eye ex-Man United coach on one condition

TL;DR

Crystal Palace is considering hiring Ruben Amorim, the former Manchester United coach, but only under specific conditions. Amorim's tenure at INEOS ended after a series of controversies and a disappointing draw with Leeds United.

Key points

Crystal Palace is eyeing Ruben Amorim as a potential coach
Amorim previously coached Manchester United
His tenure at INEOS ended after 14 months
Controversies led to his departure from INEOS
Crystal Palace's interest is conditional

Mentioned in this story

Crystal PalaceManchester UnitedINEOSRuben Amorim

Leeds United

Ruben Amorim: Crystal Palace eye ex-Man United coach on one condition

Manchester United face the uncomfortable prospect of coming up against Ruben Amorim next season, as Crystal Palace are considering appointing the 41-year-old coach – but only on one condition, according to a new report.

Prickly Portuguese

Despite 14 months of steadfast support, INEOS’ patience with Amorim ran out after Christmas, as the hierarchy brought an end to his tumultuous tenure. Following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United on January 4, the Portuguese launched a series of thinly veiled accusations at his bosses, repeatedly telling the room full of stunned journalists that he was the “manager, not coach” of the club.

Demands for the recruitment department and the sporting director, directed at both Christopher Vivell and Jason Wilcox, to “do their jobs” so that he could do his was a final bombastic flourish of an angry press conference. This attack on the hand which protected him was ill-advised, as INEOS’ backing was the only source of strength Amorim retained off the pitch, given his team had offered nothing on it.

But it was not the death knell in his time in M16; rather, it was an explosive meeting with Wilcox a few days prior which sealed his fate. The pair discussed the infamous 3-4-2-1 system, with Wilcox stressing the need for change, a move fully supported by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Amorim furiously rejected this imposition, however, instead telling the director the squad needed “changing” and threatening to call his agent to leave the club. Three days later, he got his wish.

The remarkable transformation that Michael Carrick, hired as caretaker coach until the end of the season, has overseen in the wake of Amorim’s dismissal repudiates this assertion that the players were the problem. The imperious form of , as one example, proves this perfectly.