Who are Carlos Fernandes and Adelio Candido? Meet Ruben Amorim's Man United assistants

Amorim previously compared one of his right-hand men to Jose Mourinho, with him and his colleague likely to join Manchester United too.

Having agreed a compensation package for incoming head coach Ruben Amorim, Manchester United are now assembling deals for his two Sporting CP assistants.

Carlos Fernandes and Adelio Candido have been part of Amorim’s backroom team at every senior management job he has taken on, having previously worked together at Portuguese clubs Casa Pia and SC Braga.

Eight squad members are older than 28-year-old Candido, with Tom Heaton born a whole decade before him and Jonny Evans eight years and seven months his senior. Fernandes, 29, will turn the same age as United captain Bruno Fernandes in three weeks.

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The pair are one of a new wave of staff to have gone straight into coaching having not sustained a professional playing career. Fernandes was an assistant in Benfica’s youth ranks aged 18, when Amorim was playing for the first-team.

The pair joined forces in 2018 when Amorim invited him to be part of his team at Casa Pia having enjoyed a season as the head coach for Benfica’s youth side. Candido had already been at Casa Pia for a year by then, in what was his first senior coaching role.

Fernandes was 23 at the time of his enrolment and received praise from Amorim, who reckons he will go on to exceed his own career one day. "My number two is Carlos Fernandes, he’s been my right-hand man right from day one,” Amorim explained in February 2022.

“He’ll be a much better coach than me. I often say if I become Bobby Robson, then he’ll be my Jose Mourinho! But there’s plenty of time, we’ve signed a 15-year deal!”

Managers who have been appointed by United following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 have traditionally brought their own assistants with them.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is taking temporary charge of the side following the sacking of Erik ten Hag, who initially brought Mitchell van der Gaag with him to Old Trafford.

Van Nistelrooy and long-time friend Rene Hake were invited to be part of his backroom team this summer.