Ruben Amorim – Portugal’s Next Managerial Prodigy
Ruben Amorim managed SC Braga for 10 weeks to drag them to a Portuguese Allianz Cup triumph, third in the Liga NOS before becoming the third most expensive manager in history after Sporting Lisbon paid his €10 million buyout clause. The 35-year-old took over after managing their second team as he had not even finished his UEFA A-Licence as he had to sit on the assistant’s seat or in the stands during UEFA Europa League games. In a matter of games, he proved to be an innovative and insightful young manager with Braga which was enough for Frederico Varandas to continue exacerbating his high expenditure on managerial talent.
BUILD-UP
Amorim prefers to utilise a 3+2 build-up shape in 3-2-5 attacking formation in order to progress play with quick and direct vertical combinations to progress into the opposition half. The ball-far wing-back will push higher to create width for switch balls while the ball-near wing-back will drop deeper to receive passes and connect with the wide centre-back and ball-near midfielder. Braga preferred to utilize flick-ons in build-up with the centre-back driving the ball forward to work a pass for a central midfielder to flick the ball with the outside of their boot to an attacker. Another highly-favoured build-up routine is for the wide-centre-back to work a pass for the wing-back to flick-on for the midfielder to play the ball into the channels for the wing-back to drive and have a crossing opportunity.
In the situation above, Braga are in a 3+2 build-up shape with the ball-near wing-back dropping deep while the ball-far wing-back has pushed higher up the pitch. The midfield double-pivot have made ball-orientated movements to drop closer to the wide centre-back as direct passing options while giving Braga a 4v3/5v3 numerical superiority in that area with four attacking players occupying the defenders in between the lines as well as the possibility for the wing-back to make a run onto his flank. Braga also utilize wall passes as a build-up conduit as the wide centre-back could work a pass into the ball-near midfielder who will lay off for the wide centre-back to drill a pass into his midfield partner or an attacking player who will drop into the space after Braga have attracted midfield pressure. The wide centre-back can also work a wall-pass to the midfielder before playing a ball into the channels to the wing-back who will turn and play a pass back into the centre for Braga to switch the ball.
If the wide centre-back works a back-pass to the goalkeeper, then the two wider defenders will drop nearer to the keeper attracting pressure and giving him the passing option to work a ball to the central centre-back or switch the ball to the ball-far centre-back. The centre-back can also work a pass for the central midfielder to lay-off for the central centre-back to switch the ball for the ball-far wing-back in the higher areas as in some situations, a pass to the central centre-back can trigger the ball-far wing-back to make a run behind his marker.
When the goalkeeper is in possession, Braga will spread their wide centre-backs wide if it is a back-passing situation or the wide centre-backs will be situated next to the keeper inside the box in a short goal-kick situation. The central centre-back will push into the midfield line to stagger the back-line as Braga will involve the keeper heavily in build-up. Even when the ball is played to the wide centre-backs, the central centre-back will push into the midfield line and move closer to the ball-near flank while maintaining a largely central position. The ball-near wing-back and midfielder will also drop closer to the wide centre-back with the wing-back hugging the touchline while the midfielder will fill the space in between the central centre-back and wide centre-back. Braga will seek to work short vertical combinations to evade opposition lateral pressure as the wide centre-back will look for a central option to not put the wing-back under direct pressure and increase the chances of being hemmed into his own flank and losing possession. The centre-back will either dribble inside by beating his man to earn a foul or a yard of space or directly work a pass to the midfielder or central centre-back.
The midfielder and centre-back could work a combination attracting pressure before playing the ball to an attacker dropping deep who will flick on for the wing-back to run into space or try to play the central striker in with a through ball. Braga could also switch the ball to the ball-far wing-back in order to isolate him in a 1v1 situation against his fullback with the ability to work a crossing situation for a teammate. Sometimes when the centre-backs push into the higher areas, Braga could operate in a 3+1 build-up shape as they could work interchanges with the midfielder dropping into the three-chain with a wide centre-back moving wider or the central centre-back pushing higher to circulate the ball and maintain possession instead of playing a riskier pass in between the lines if the passing options are unavailable.
Braga’s centre-backs are encouraged to work line-breaking passes into the pockets with attackers dropping into space to receive possession. Braga’s inverted wide attackers are integral in build-up and positional play as they move into the space in between the midfielders and wing-back to receive possession, turn and drive the ball forward to create opportunities. Braga will also use more direct ideals to play the ball forward as the back three and goalkeeper can work long balls to the strikers in the opposition half to win aerial duels and lay-off the ball to teammates. The three-chain will also circulate the ball to create spaces for the attackers for the chipped ball into the attackers to work connections and create opportunities.
Braga’s central-striker is integral to build-up as he drops off the centre-back to receive possession from the centre-backs and switch the ball. When he drops deep, the two wide attackers will move more central while the ball-far wing-back will maintain his high position to establish width for switch balls. When the ball moves into the wide areas with the wide centre-back, wing-backs and wide attackers, the central attacker will move into the wide areas as a passing option to receive possession and lay-off into the pockets, allowing wide attackers to make vertical runs into the nine-space in behind for through-balls. Braga’s 3-2-5 attacking shape allows the three central strikers to drop deep and create issues for the opposition defensive chain through blind-sided movement and dropping deeper to receive possession to work quick vertical moves to create goalscoring opportunities.
Positional Play
Braga generally lined up in a 3-2-5 shape but allowed their defenders to push into the midfield line to create more passing options while establishing issues for the opposition defensive structure. A centre-back driving forward would encourage an opposition player to press, creating a space for an attacking player to drop into to receive possession. Braga look to stretch the pitch and utilise switches to allow their wing-backs to have 1v1 opportunities against fullbacks while they generate crossing opportunities as they prefer to not just use low crossing situations. They are clever in creating high quality crossing situations with crossing options moving to the back-post to receive heading opportunities by moving to the blind-side of their centre-back.
Braga also work a manoeuvre where they line up with a front five to play back-passes and work decoy situations of switching the ball, instead using combinations on the near side to create space for crossing opportunities. In the situation above, they are utilising this manoeuvre with a front five stretching play and the ball-far wing-back establishing width on the far flank. They worked the ball back to the wide centre-back who has pushed forward to establish a midfield three as he can work a pass to the central midfielder who instead of switching the ball to the far side will play a pass to the attacker who will drop into space and lay-off a pass to the wide centre-back to play a through-ball to the wing-back to have a crossing opportunity.
The presence of the wide centre-back pushing up to create space has turned a standard 3v3 situation into a 4v3 numerical superiority for Braga and instead of switching the ball to the far-side for a 3v3 situation, they can work vertical combinations on the near side through the threat of switching the ball to shift the defensive focus to the far side before they work rotations on the near side. In the situation above, Braga’s middle attacking three are positioned on the blind-side of their markers with the central striker moving closer to the near side to anticipate space for through balls. This allows them the extra time to drop into space while once their marker moves out of their position to engage the player in possession, they have space for through balls and deliveries on their marker’s blind-side.
Amorim prefers to use inverted attacking players on the sides adjacent to their strongest foot in order to foster their ability to face the player in possession and drop into space to receive the ball while also working combinations with the wing-back outside of them. The biggest benefactor of this has been Trincao who has earned a move to Barcelona and can come off the bench in the bigger games but is stronger at dribbling with his left foot in the right half-space. He is strong at cutting back to cross with his right foot providing perfectly looping balls to the back-post while also developing his strengths with his weaker foot being able to dribble, pass and receive the ball with his right foot.
Amorim works standard crossing situations where he prefers to have three attacking players in the box for crossing situations as they have the near post option, option in the six-yard area and option at the back post who can all converge in the six-yard area if the wing-back gets into a good crossing area. Wing-backs do not drive to the by-line to create crosses but can also cross from areas nearer to the touchline, from the wide tips of the box or from deeper and wider areas. Most of these crosses will be to a runner at the back-post to head across the goalkeeper or rise high to nod in at the keeper’s near post.
Amorim’s Braga have also been known to utilize the attacking 3-1-6 formation with one of their midfield two pushing into the attacking line and a centre-back moving closer to the deepest-lying midfielder. They can use this formation when the opposition are a man down and they are chasing a goal or when their 3-2-5 shape is insufficient against the opposition’s defensive block. In the situation above, they are in a 2-2-6 shape as they can also switch into a two-chain attacking shape when a centre-back has space to drive into the opposition half. The centre-back has driven into the opposition half with the opposition in a defensive chain as the defender directly in his zone has a dilemma of pushing forward to mark him and opening passing lane for the central striker who has dropped deep and is showing for the ball as well as the attacker in the left half-space.
The left wing-back has also been left open in the opposition’s 5-4-1 shape as his marker has pushed forward to engage the man in possession. The centre-back can work a pass to the central striker who has the perfect body shape and view of the pitch to work a one-touch pass for the attacker in the left half-space to have a shot on goal or for the wing-back if he has remained onside and has the opportunity to beat his man who is defending narrowly. The wing-back can then provide a low cross as the attacking four converge in the box outnumbering the opposition back three for a high-quality crossing and shooting opportunity. Braga also have opportunities to switch the ball as the ball-far wing-back is in space while Braga have the central numbers for penetration and runs into the box for the wing-back to execute a strong delivery.
Amorim’s Braga also preferred to stagger the attacking three or four in the attacking phase to ensure the ball-near attackers are making movements towards the ball to receive possession while the central attacker is moving into the space vacated to receive through balls and generate crossing or shooting opportunities. In the situation above, Braga are using the 3-1-6 attacking shape against their ten-man opposition. The wide centre-backs have pushed alongside the pivote leaving the most central defender as the only defender while the wide defenders are positioned in areas to establish more adequate spacing for connections with the wing-backs and attackers in the half-space.
The central defender has the opportunity to drill a line-breaking pass into the centre-forward who is dropping into space as the opposition striker anxiously tries to cover that passing lane. Or the wide centre-back can work a wall-pass to the midfielder in the six space to prevent the striker from covering that area before pushing up and working a pass for the centre-forward to flick in behind or lay-off to a teammate to have a shooting opportunity or switch the ball to the wide areas to work a low cross for the players in the box. Instead of switching the ball or working a pass in between the lines, the centre-back can also work a standard Braga sequence of turning and working a pass to the wide centre-back on the near side. The wide centre-back can work a pass into the half-space to lay-off to the six space as the defensive midfielder can work a chip for the wing-back to go in behind and cross for Braga’s attackers in the box.
Braga have put the opposition in a dilemma as they have been able to push their back-three into the opposition half to maximise their numerical superiority as the opposition are forced to maintain a low block. Their centre-backs will have more time on the ball and space to push into while Amorim’s side can manipulate the opposition’s man-marking structure in the deeper areas to create space for lay-offs, quick vertical combinations and switches. Braga have a 3v2 superiority against Sporting’s defenders as the attackers are positioned on the blind-side of their defenders, allowing them space to drop deep and receive the ball while also being able to make runs into the open space to receive possession. If Braga move the ball to the left flank which is the ball-near flank, Braga will have the advantage of shifting across to take advantage of low crosses or looping crosses into the six-yard box to have goalscoring opportunities.
Counter-pressing
Amorim’s Braga could use counter-pressing as a playmaker as they could work direct long-balls into the opposition half which the opposition would regain as their front three would then press the player in possession with the support of their wing-backs and central midfielders to regain possession and create a goalscoring opportunity. Braga are highly aggressive in the counter-pressing phase as if they are in their 3-2-5 shape and work a crossing opportunity during which they lose possession. Their wing-backs will maintain their high positioning with the focus of pressing the ball to force a turnover or forcing a longer ball for their centre-backs to push up and regain possession. The wing-backs will also move into the half-spaces to regain possession as they will rarely retreat for Braga to shift into their defensive shape, instead looking to press the ball.
If the ball is lost by the inside forwards, they will counter-press the man in possession to force a back-pass which Braga will push forward and continue to press in order to force a long-ball into the centre-backs. The wing-backs and central midfielders will also push up with the front three to provide coverage and deny the opposition any direct passing access to the centre-backs, six space and fullbacks as Braga’s counter-pressing is not individual but more of a unit-based endeavour. If Braga lose the ball in the high central areas or wide areas with the opposition then shifting the ball into the central areas, the central attacking three and the midfield two will close the spaces for the player in possession to regain the ball with the centre-backs pushing forward to the half-way line. Braga can win the ball in these areas to establish opportunities to break and create goalscoring opportunities as they can win the ball closer to the opposition goal.
Braga’s back three are highly involved in the counter-press, maintaining close spacing as a unit to push up and regain possession from strikers in 3v1/3v2 situations. The central centre-back can make the challenge while the wide centre-backs can properly distribute the ball as the three-chain will push up to the half-way line and into the opposition half to counter-press. They will be more active when the ball is in the centre as they will provide press security for the midfield two who will push up to close spaces with the front three as they seek to regain loose balls before shifting them into the next attacking wave. Braga may also lose possession in build-up with their affinity for playing through tight areas or utilising long-passes as if they lose possession in their own half, their ball-near three players will enclose on the player in possession to regain the ball. Ball-near attackers are also encouraged to chase back to win the ball from the player in possession, so Braga can prevent the opposition from having a goalscoring opportunity.
Pressing
Braga press in a 5-2-3 shape as if the opposition are in a three-chain, the three attackers will man-mark the three centre-backs with the wing-backs marking the opposition wing-backs. Braga also press the keeper as if the opposition shift the ball back to the keeper then the central striker will push forward to engage the keeper, keeping his centre-back responsibility in his cover shadow. If the opposition utilise a double-pivot then the midfield two will man-mark the double-pivot as Braga’s pressure is man-orientated with a structure maintaining small distances in between the lines from the attackers to the midfielders to the defenders. If the opposition are using a two-chain with a pivote then Braga’s wide attackers will move inside to mark the centre-backs with the central striker dropping deeper to mark the six space as the responsibility of pressuring the goalkeeper will be on the wide attackers to push forward to close down the keeper while keeping the centre-backs in their cover shadow.
In the situation above, Braga are instituting medium pressure with the focus of preventing connections, forcing the opposition to work back-passes which will trigger a higher press from Braga. The central attacker is marking the space in between the two centre-backs while the wide attackers are marking the space in between the centre-backs and fullbacks. The opposition have played a ball to the six space as Braga’s central attacker and right attacker have enclosed on the player about to receive possession in a 2v1 situation to regain possession or force the back-pass after which the Braga attackers will push forward to regain possession or force the long-ball. If Braga switch into a higher pressing situation, the front three will push higher to press the centre-backs and the keeper with the midfield two pushing up to mark the double pivot while the wing-backs mark the opposition fullbacks leaving the back three in a 3v3 situation. Amorim’s Braga are defensively rigid in pressing aspects as they attack their defensive responsibilities with tigerish intent looking to regain the ball as soon as possible.
If Braga are lateral pressing the wide areas then they will shift as a unit with the midfield two moving across, allowing the wing-back to remain deeper as press security while the front three will shift across to close down the opposition on the opposite flank. The ball-far wing-back will also push forward and shift across to provide coverage in the midfield zone in case the opposition switch the ball. The front three and midfield two will look to prevent the opposition from switching by hemming them onto their flank as a block of five with man-orientated pressure on the flanks. In certain situations, Braga will force the back-pass and wait for the centre-backs to circulate the ball amongst each other before pressing the ball in order to close down the connections and win possession in order to create a shooting opportunity.
Defensive shape
Braga defend in a 5-4-1 defensive shape as it easy to transition from a 5-2-3 pressing shape into a 5-4-1 defensive shape. In a 5-2-3 pressing shape, the wingers will drop back alongside the central midfielders with the central attacker leading the pressure phase. Amorim’s Braga will defend in this shape to prevent their opposition from playing through the centre and forcing them out wide where Braga will look to have the numerical advantage to regain possession and break. The Portuguese side prefer to not defend too deep as they will work a well-drilled offside trap to prevent teams from hemming them into their own box. In counter-attacking situations, Braga’s back three will push up at times instead of chasing runners into the deeper areas to put attackers in an offside situation.
In the situation above, Braga are in their deep block as the back three have pushed higher and closer to the midfielders to put the opposition striker in an offside situation. The spaces in between the line are small as the opposition have worked a pass to an attacker in between the lines triggering the midfielder pushing up to mark him. The ball-near winger has moved inside to create a 3v1 situation to prevent a back-passing situation while Braga have denied him passing access to his teammates. If the player in possession works the ball to his direct passing option in the right half-space, the narrowly-positioned winger will close down the passing lane while the wide centre-back will push up to regain possession.
There are facets of zonal and man-orientated marking in their defensive shape as both wingers have tucked inside to mark players in the half-spaces and cut out passing lanes. If the opposition look to work a chipped ball, then Braga’s centre-backs and goalkeeper are well-drilled at managing the spaces in behind. Braga’s goalkeeper, Matheus is quick off his line to clear away chips from opposition attackers. Braga are also well-drilled at shifting in switching situations as they are prepared for a 2v2 on the ball-far flank and a 3v3 flank on the near flank. The Braga midfielders are positioned in between the wide centre-backs and the central centre-backs to create rigidity in the centre and deny the opposition space for through balls. If the opposition work the ball back to their centre-backs, they can easily transition into a 5-2-3 pressing shape with the wingers already in a more central position marking opposition defenders while the central striker will mark the most central centre-back and goalkeeper.
Conclusion
Amorim will have his work cut-out for him once football resumes as he will be at Sporting Lisbon under Varandas. He will work at a club with a higher budget and a more expensive squad as it will be interesting to see how he develops during the fledgling stages of his managerial career. Many Portuguese coaches have got their promotion to the higher echelons of the Liga NOS to struggle before rekindling their careers as Paulo Fonseca struggled at FC Porto before reigniting his career while Jose Mourinho also had a forgettable stint at Benfica. A failed tenure in Lisbon may not derail his career but is an intriguing opportunity for a short managerial career that has shown some early promise.
