Ljubomir Fejsa, a former teammate of newly appointed Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, expressed surprise at Amorim’s trajectory into top-tier coaching, recalling a lighthearted locker room personality.
Fejsa, who played alongside Amorim at Portuguese club Benfica during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, told DAZN he was taken aback by Amorim’s transition into management. He described a playful locker room dynamic that sharply contrasted with the seriousness of a managerial role.
“When he started coaching, I said: ‘How is it possible?'” Fejsa recounted. “We are always joking, joking, joking in the locker room, doing many things. Now it’s serious, you know? He’s a coach, you have to be serious.”
Despite the initial surprise, Fejsa acknowledged Amorim’s effectiveness as a coach. “He was always joking, but he works very well. Ruben is top,” Fejsa said.
He added that Amorim’s discussions about tactics during their playing days were always “in jest.” Fejsa believes few, if any, teammates expected Amorim to pursue a coaching career.
Fejsa also reflected on the significant pressure of playing for a club like Benfica. He suggested that new players might not immediately grasp the “weight of the jersey” and require time to adapt.
He recalled an incident shortly after he joined Benfica when Amorim suffered an injury. Fejsa was forced to enter a match without warming up just 20 minutes into the game.
“I remember that game: I cleared one, two, three balls, made a good pass… and after that, it was just playing on,” Fejsa stated. This impromptu debut helped him build confidence, making him feel as if he had been with the club for many years.