Ruben Amorim and Maria Joao Drago (foto: Screenshot)
Ruben Amorim opens up about the one regret from his youth that his wife lovingly teases him about. Despite his rapid rise in football, there’s one decision he wishes he could change.
Manchester United’s new manager, Ruben Amorim, has revealed a personal regret that his wife often teases him about. The 39-year-old, who is set to lead United for the first time on Sunday against Ipswich Town, has climbed the managerial ladder with remarkable speed, but he admits there’s one choice from his youth he wishes he could take back.
Amorim’s journey to the top began humbly. After taking charge of Portuguese third-division side Casa Pia in 2018, his coaching career took off. A stint at Braga followed, where he caught the eye of Sporting CP, who paid €10 million (£8.3 million) to secure his services. That move turned Amorim into one of the most talked-about young coaches in Europe. But long before all this success, Amorim made a decision as a teenager that he still reflects on with regret.
Speaking to the Portuguese outlet Expresso, Amorim revealed that he left school at 17 before completing his final exams, a decision that his wife, Maria João Diogo, still playfully brings up.
“I had a deal with my mother," Amorim explained. "I told her I’d stay in school until I signed a professional contract. When I signed at 17, I left school. Now, I regret it a lot. If I’d taken my exams, I could have finished my 12th year and even gone to a top college. My wife is an electrotechnical engineer, and she reminds me of it every single day.”
Maria, who holds a degree in telecommunications engineering, has built an impressive career of her own. She now runs a thriving interior design business, Dois Ton, alongside Raquel, the wife of Manchester City’s director of football, Hugo Viana. Amorim’s wife has clearly forged her own path of success, which makes the couple’s dynamic all the more intriguing.
Amorim’s decision to leave school came before his breakthrough in football. In 2003, he debuted professionally for Primeira Liga side Belenenses, kickstarting a career that would eventually lead him to manage at the highest level. However, as he reflects on his choices, it’s clear that education is a chapter he wishes he’d written differently.
Maria and Ruben tied the knot at the stunning Palácio de São Marcos in Coimbra, Portugal, and their relationship is filled with humor and shared ambition. While Amorim may not have completed his schooling, his charisma and intelligence have become defining traits, earning him admiration from family, friends, and now, Manchester United fans.
Sports journalist Charlotte Harpur, who spent time with Amorim’s close circle, has highlighted the unique qualities that make the Portuguese coach stand out.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Harpur noted, "It’s his charisma, his smile. When you interact with him, even as media, it feels fresh and different. It’s a stark contrast to Erik ten Hag.
"From speaking to his family and friends, you get the sense that he’s not just another coach. They feel he’s got something special, a fresh perspective. It’s hard to articulate, but they believe he can bring a new energy and a clean slate to Manchester United."
As Amorim embarks on this high-profile chapter with Manchester United, his personal journey adds depth to his story. Whether managing one of the world’s biggest football clubs or reflecting on the road he’s traveled, Amorim’s openness about his past only makes him more relatable.