Ruben Amorim's car choice shows exactly the type of person Man Utd boss is

There isn’t much longer to wait before Ruben Amorim is whisked into Manchester United’s Carrington training base in one of the club’s trademark blacked-out Mercedes vehicles. But the 39-year-old’s own car speaks volumes about the character of the man who will be known as United’s head coach from Monday.

Amorim will complete his switch from Sporting on November 11 after taking charge of two blockbuster final matches against Manchester City and Braga.

As with any United manager, his arrival is highly anticipated among supporters who are itching to see him in club colours for the first time.

Much will be said about Amorim’s character after his unveiling press conference. However, if his choice of car is anything to go by, enough of a view can be formed already.

Six years ago, Petter Skogsletten and Geoff Labine joined Amorim on a week-long internship while he pursued a master’s degree in high-performance football coaching at the University of Lisbon.

The Portuguese tactician had a reputation, having earned 14 caps for his country and appearing 153 times for Benfica during his playing days.

But both Skogsletten and Labine joined professor Antonio Veloso, who convened the course, in describing United’s incoming boss as “humble.”

Skogsletten told The Athletic: “For him, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been playing at this level, he’s at the same level as you. He opened up and he was himself with you.”

Labine agreed with his former course-mate by claiming Amorim had snubbed a lavish, expensive car to match his status as one of the world’s most highly rated coaches for his reliable Smart car.

“I would joke with Ruben because he’s driving the most unassuming Smart car, those little cube cars,” Labine revealed.

“I’m looking for the Maserati or the Bugatti or something. He goes: ‘No Geoff, you don’t understand. I’m different. I’m not like that.'”

Amorim has made a positive impression with how he has carried himself since United announced he had agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract last Friday.

On Monday, Amorim expressed his excitement to land in Manchester but admitted turning his back on Sporting was tough after four transformative years in Lisbon.

He told TNT Sports: “[It’s been] very tough. The worst and best week of my life. I don’t have another way to explain [it].

“Very tough because I’m leaving a very good place, but I’m going to one of the best clubs in the world. So it’s been very tough, but it is what it is.

“I’m emotional, but not in this part. I know because I was a player, and I know that in our lives, we have to leave, go, and change our environment quite often.”