How 2010 World Cup in South Africa Shaped Manchester United Manager Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim second right (front row). Photo. Imago

How 2010 World Cup in South Africa Shaped Manchester United Manager Ruben Amorim

Evans Ousuru 10:05 - 19.04.2025

Ruben Amorim reveals his most precious moment during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim has finally opened up about what it felt competing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The former Portuguese international recalls the moment he featured for his national team during the global competition held in South Africa 15 years ago.

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Portugal was among the 32 teams that played in the 2010 Fifa World Cup, the first time the prestigious global competition was held in Africa.

The 40-year-old was part of the Portugal squad and reminisces the good moments in South Africa. “I remember the sound of vuvuzelas was amazing, it was hard sometimes to speak in the stadium, but you guys have a very beautiful country,” Amorim told Goal.com.

“I remember Cape Town was a really good city, a really nice city, and it was a good moment in my career.”

As a footballer, Amorim played as a midfielder and spent most of his professional career with Belenenses and Benfica.

Amorim signed with Benfica in 2008 and went on to win ten major titles, including three league titles, one Taça de Portugal, five Taças da Liga and one Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. He represented Portugal in two FIFA World Cups, earning a total of 14 caps.

Ruben Amorim's journey to coaching

Manchester United Manager Ruben Amorim Recalls the 2010 World Cup in South Africa
Ruben Amorim looks dejected during Manchester United's clash with Newcastle United (Credit: Imago)

After retiring as a player in 2017, Amorim began his coaching career at Casa Pia in 2018, before resigning that same year amid a dispute with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). 

He was then appointed head coach at Braga's reserve team, popularly known as Braga B, before taking charge of the Braga senior side in December 2019, winning the 2020 Taça da Liga.

Conquering Sporting CP

Manchester United Manager Ruben Amorim Recalls the 2010 World Cup in South Africa
Ruben Amorim reacts to the criticism

In March 2020, Amorim was appointed manager of Sporting CP, becoming then the third most expensive manager ever. In his first season, Amorim guided the club to a double by winning both the Taça da Liga and the Primeira Liga, ending the latter's 19-year league title drought.

These achievements won him the Primeira Liga's Manager of the Year award for the 2020–21 season. 

He later led them to another Primeira Liga title in the 2023–24 season, being named for the second time Primeira Liga's Manager of the Year.

He left the club for Manchester United in November 2024.Amorim has guided United to the semifinals of the Europa League where the Red Devils will face Athletic Bilbao.