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Sam Allardyce predicts what will happen with Harry Maguire at Man United under Ruben Amorim
The Erik ten Hag era is over at Manchester United, and the Ruben Amorim era is about to begin.
Amorim is set to become the Manchester United manager in the near future, and the Portuguese gaffer will bring a whole new style and philosophy to Old Trafford.
Indeed, some of Ten Hag’s mantras will be quickly forgotten, and many of the players who were on the fringes for the Dutchman may now become key players.
Ten Hag consistently tried to replace Harry Maguire at Manchester United as he signed the likes of Leny Yoro, Matthijs De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez to play that centre-back position.
However, with Amorim arriving favouring a 3-4-3 formation, Maguire could get another chance to shine at United.
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast, Sam Allardyce has been discussing how Amorim will get on at United, and he reckons that Maguire could well become a key player for the new manager.
- READ MORE: What concerned West Ham about Ruben Amorim during interview which Man United have chosen to ignore

Harry Maguire could be key for Ruben Amorim
Big Sam shared his verdict on what will happen for Maguire under Amorim.
Allardyce reckons that Maguire could be a key component in this Amorim team, claiming that he’s one of the best players around when it comes to playing out from the back.
The former England manager also says that the man will suit a back three as his lack of pace will be covered by his defensive partners.
“It’s a big time for Harry because he’s been out of the frame under Ten Hag, but if the new coach is insistent on this system, for me, Harry is going to be the best man here. We all know he has a lack of pace, but that gets covered there. We also know he’s one of the best at playing out. Coming in there is a great asset in a back three, because he’s easily covered there with these coming in,” Allardyce said.
Harry Maguire is better in a back three
Allardyce says that Maguire may be better in a back three, and he’s not wrong.
Maguire has rarely been allowed to play in this system at club level, but this has been a regular fixture of Gareth Southgate’s England set-up for a long time now.
Maguire made the Team of the Tournament at Euro 2020 after playing in this position, and Gary Neville has even pointed out that Maguire is better for England than he is for United.
Maguire isn’t blessed with incredible speed. In fact, according to , he was one of United’s slowest players last season.
Manchester United’s slowest players 2023/24 | Top speed (km/h) |
1. Kobbie Mainoo | 27.6 |
2. Andre Onana | 27.7 |
3. Anthony Martial | 29.5 |
4. Casemiro | 29.8 |
5. Harry Maguire | 30.1 |
That lack of pace can so easily be exposed in a back four, but with the extra cover of the wing-backs and the centre-backs in a back three, Maguire could thrive under Ruben Amorim.
There had been calls for Maguire to be sold under Ten Hag, but now, he could reclaim his place as one of United’s most important players.