Ruben Amorim has kept a notably low profile since leaving Manchester United in January.
There has been no new job, very few public appearances, and only scattered links shaping the early picture of what comes next. Those links have been a bit all over the place.
As previously reported, Amorim was even loosely associated with a potential move to a mid-table Brazilian side. At the same time, Benfica have started to hover in the background, mostly through outside noise rather than anything concrete from inside the club.
Now, though, a clearer idea of his thinking is starting to come through.
Amorim planning break after Manchester United
Ruben Amorim is not actively chasing a return to management.
According to A Bola, the former Manchester United boss is actually planning to take a sabbatical during the 2026/27 season. The idea is to step away for a year, learn, exchange ideas with other managers, and reset after a hectic few years.
The goal is to “strengthen his skills, focusing on learning and gaining knowledge”, as told by the Portuguese outlet. And it does make sense.
Since leaving Manchester United, Amorim has not taken concrete steps towards a new job. His rise before that was intense, going from Braga to Sporting and then to Old Trafford without any real pause. This would be the first proper break in his coaching career.
And there is a key detail here: a return to Portugal is not in his plans.
The report makes it clear that Amorim does not intend to work in the Portuguese league next season. His preference is to stay abroad, if the right opportunity shows up after the summer.
Benfica links don’t quite add up
That stance does not exactly match the recent Benfica talk.
Benfica are not actively looking for a new manager. José Mourinho is still in charge, and there have been no formal contacts with Amorim. Still, his name has started to do the rounds, especially among supporters.
Benfica are third in the league, seven points behind Porto, with only six games left. On top of that, they were knocked out of the Champions League playoffs by Real Madrid, eliminated from the Portuguese Cup by Porto, and beaten by Braga in the League Cup semi-finals.
It has been a disappointing season by their standards, and that has naturally sparked some noise. Even so, Amorim’s current thinking points in a different direction.
What happens next
Ruben Amorim’s situation is open, but maybe not in the way many expected.
After Manchester United, it felt like he would jump straight back into another big job… Or any job actually. But instead, he seems ready to take a step back and reset.
That does not completely close the door on a move. A strong offer from abroad could still change things. But as it stands, an immediate return to Portugal is not part of the plan.
Rather than rushing into the next challenge, Amorim looks set to pause – unless something big comes along to change his mind.
