Ruben Amorim makes decision on Benfica manager job

Benfica’s search for a new manager is still hanging in the balance as the club continues to work through several high-level options ahead of the new season, with uncertainty growing around who will eventually take charge.

Talks have been ongoing following the club’s expectation that a managerial change was imminent, but discussions have not developed smoothly, leaving the situation open-ended for now.

At the centre of the conversation is former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, who has emerged as a serious candidate but is far from committed to a return to Portuguese football.

Ruben Amorim decides his future

According to Record, Benfica initially opened negotiations with Amorim over their vacant role, but those talks have since broken down, with no agreement in place and no clear path toward a resolution.

Amorim, who was previously dismissed by Manchester United in January, would have been stepping into his first managerial role since leaving Old Trafford had the move materialised, making the Benfica position a potential reset point in his career.

However, despite being admired within the Benfica hierarchy, particularly by club president Rui Costa, convincing the former Sporting boss to return home has proven to be a major obstacle.

Sources suggest Rui Costa sees Amorim as a preferred candidate to fill the vacancy, but the coach’s stance has complicated the club’s plans significantly.

Part of the wider managerial shuffle also involves the anticipated move of Jose Mourinho, who is closing in on a return to Real Madrid on a two-year contract, a development that had indirectly influenced expectations around Benfica’s appointment process.

Mourinho’s exit from Benfica had initially been seen as the trigger that could clear the way for Amorim’s arrival, but that pathway has now become far less certain.

Ruben Amorim is understood to have reservations about returning to Portugal at this stage of his career, with his preference leaning strongly toward remaining abroad and taking on a new challenge outside his home country.

Even after his difficult spell in Manchester, he reportedly believes an international project would better suit his ambitions and allow him to rebuild his reputation in a different environment.

There is also a growing sense that he is willing to be patient, with reports indicating he would rather wait for the right opportunity than rush into a job that does not fully align with his long-term goals.

In fact, it is not ruled out that Amorim could begin the next season without a coaching role at all if no suitable offer arrives during the summer window.

For Benfica, that leaves their managerial search in a delicate position, with their top target increasingly uncertain while they weigh up alternative options to avoid being left without a clear direction heading into pre-season.