๐ Who Is Carlos Fernandes? Manchester United’s Hidden Weapon in the Amorim Era
1. Amorim’s Trusted Sidekick
Carlos Miranda Marques Fernandes, born 21 November 1994 in Lisbon, Portugal, is Manchester United’s 30-year-old assistant manager-in-waiting an underrated but vital figure in the potential Rรบben Amorim era. He’s been Amorim’s tactical right hand since 2018, starting at Casa Pia and following him loyally through Braga and Sporting CP.
2. Coach from the Start
Carlos Fernandes never kicked off a professional playing career he dove straight into the tactical world instead. At just 18, he joined Benfica’s youth academy as a coach, showing a rare obsession for the details of the game.
While others were dreaming of Champions League nights, Carlos was already breaking down match footage, planning micro-detailed training sessions, and helping shape young talents. His intelligence and dedication quickly stood out, and it wasn’t long before Rรบben Amorim noticed his potential.
That early link laid the foundation for one of modern football’s most intriguing coaching duos.
3. Casa Pia: Where It All Began
In 2018, at just 23 years old, Carlos Fernandes officially teamed up with Rรบben Amorim at Casa Pia, a humble club in Portugal’s third division. With limited resources but big ideas, the duo laid the groundwork for their tactical identity.
Late-night tactics sessions, obsessive attention to pressing triggers, and a bold attacking philosophy became their trademark. Fernandes, the meticulous planner, and Amorim, the charismatic leader, complemented each other perfectly.
Casa Pia wasn’t just a job it was the laboratory where the Amorim Fernandes partnership was forged. The success they would later achieve at Braga and Sporting started with those long nights and shared dreams in Lisbon.
4. SC Braga: Rising Together
In 2019, the duo made their next leap Carlos Fernandes followed Amorim to SC Braga, starting with the B team before quickly stepping up to the first team.
Under their guidance, Braga finished 3rd in Liga NOS 2019–20, racking up 60 points a statement season that turned heads across Europe.
One of Fernandes’ standout contributions? Set pieces.
From just 80 corners, Braga scored 12 goals a 15% conversion rate, far above league average. His precision planning and training-ground routines made Braga lethal from dead-ball situations.
It was here that Fernandes' tactical fingerprints started becoming impossible to ignore.
5. Sporting CP: Winning Titles as a Duo
From 2020 to 2024, Carlos Fernandes and Rรบben Amorim turned Sporting CP into a powerhouse winning two Liga NOS titles in 2020 21 and 2023 24.
Their 2020–21 triumph was historic 85 points, just 1 defeat, and only 20 goals conceded. It ended Sporting’s 19-year title drought and sent shockwaves through Portuguese football.
Behind the scenes, Fernandes was instrumental. He and Amorim held daily tactical meetings, refining match plans, pressing triggers, and positional structures with military precision. The result? A well-oiled machine that blended flair with discipline.
The duo didn’t just win they built a winning culture.
6. The Perfect Tactical Partnership
Think of it like this: Amorim is the motivator. Fernandes is the mind. Together, they form one of the most effective tactical partnerships in European football.
While Amorim inspires the squad and manages personalities, Carlos Fernandes dives into deep analysis, using advanced tools like Wyscout to dissect opponents and fine-tune strategies.
At Sporting, their trademark 3-4-3 system wasn’t just beautiful it was brutal. In 2020 21, they scored 91 goals, blending rapid transitions with positional dominance thanks in large part to Fernandes’ tactical blueprints.
It’s brains and belief. Vision and execution. That’s the Amorim Fernandes formula.
7. Set-Piece Expertise
Carlos Fernandes isn’t just good at set pieces he’s a specialist. At Sporting CP, his creative routines turned dead-ball situations into a consistent scoring weapon.
In the 2020 21 season, Sporting scored 22 goals from set pieces:
▪️ 13 from corners
▪️ 9 from free kicks
That tally ranked them 2nd across Europe’s top five leagues for set-piece productivity.
Fernandes engineered decoy runs, zonal overloads, and smart blocking schemes that confused defenders and freed up targets. By 2022–23, Sporting’s header goal rate jumped 18%, a direct result of his innovations.
Every corner. Every free kick. It was never random it was Carlos’ playbook in action.
8. Joining United: A United Front
In November 2024, Carlos Fernandes officially arrived at Manchester United alongside Rรบben Amorim, forming a fresh leadership duo and replacing Erik ten Hag’s staff.
With six years of trust and synergy, Fernandes didn’t need time to adjusthe immediately took charge of tactical planning and set pieces, his two areas of expertise.
The results? Instant impact.
In their first five games, United scored 3 headed goals, doubling the total from the previous five matches. Fernandes’ routines were already making a difference.
Quiet off the pitch, deadly efficient on it Carlos is now scripting United’s next chapter from the touchline.
9. Boosting United’s Attack
Carlos Fernandes' set-piece magic is already syncing with United’s evolving 3-4-3, giving the attack a sharper edge especially in dead-ball situations.
Since November 2024, United’s set-piece expected goals (xG) has risen from 0.3 to 0.4 per game, a clear sign of improved threat from corners and free kicks.
Players like Matthijs de Ligt, who averages 8.2 aerial duels won per 90 (Opta), and Rasmus Hรธjlund are now regular targets in Fernandes’ structured routines.
In matches like the 3-1 win over Leicester, the difference was visible even if not every goal was directly off a set piece, the pressure and chaos from Fernandes’ delivery plans created constant danger.
You may not always see his name but you’ll see his fingerprints all over United’s attacking improvements.
10. Locking Down Defensive Set Pieces
Carlos Fernandes doesn’t just create set-piece goals—he prevents them too.
His defensive setups combine zonal structure with targeted man-marking on aerial threats. The result? A far more disciplined and resilient United on dead-ball defense.
In comparison to the 2023–24 season, United’s set-piece goals conceded dropped by 20% from 15 to 12 per season (Opta). That’s a quiet revolution on the back line.
One standout display came in the 2024 Europa League final vs Tottenham. Despite the 1-0 loss, Spurs were completely nullified from corners, thanks to Fernandes’ planning.
In an era where one corner can change a season, Carlos is United’s shield as much as he is their sword.
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