Ruben Amorim and his wife Maria Joao Diogo
Ruben Amorim has candidly admitted how his wife never lets him forget that she completed her degree while he skipped his exams for a career on the pitch.
The distinguished manager is gearing up for his first game at the helm of Manchester United this weekend, coming off a brilliant run with Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon where he won two league titles. His journey to one of football's most coveted managerial spots at Old Trafford started early in Portugal.
The 39-year-old inked his first pro contract as an eager teenager with Belenenses, after being shown the door by Benfica. For Amorim, football's allure meant school exams took a back seat, leading to a twinge of remorse and playful jabs from his stunning wife, Maria Joao Diogo.
Speaking to Expresso, a leading Portuguese publication, Amorim revealed what he gave up for his dreams. He said: "I had an agreement with my mother. I would continue at school until I signed a professional contract.
"I signed when I was 17. Today, I regret it a lot. If I'd taken my exams, I could have done the 12th year. I could also have entered a top college."
Maria (left) runs an interior design company
The Mirror reports he then added with a hint of jest about his accomplished spouse: "My wife is an electrotechnical engineer and she throws that in my face every day."
Amorim proudly earned his stripes in coaching, achieving a master's degree in high-performance football coaching from the University of Lisbon - an accomplishment that included a week's internship in Manchester mentored by none other than Jose Mourinho.
The Special One, Portugal's most celebrated coach, took Amorim under his wing during that time. With an impressive pedigree now behind him, Amorim is poised to take charge at Old Trafford and attempt to salvage a dismal season that has seen the Red Devils slumped in 13th place in the Premier League.
Despite the obvious parallels, Amorim has been quick to dismiss comparisons between himself and his illustrious counterpart. He said: "The new Mourinho? There will never be a new Mourinho. Mourinho is one of a kind.
"He's already texted me: 'The old and the new [Mourinho] are still in, I'll see you in the next stage! ' But there won't be another Mourinho... The new Mourinho I won't be, but I'm happy to carry on at Sporting's project."
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