Bruno Fernandes praises Man Utd’s ‘unsung hero’ who joined the club thanks to Ruben Amorim’s ‘special request’.
Bruno Fernandes recently shared why Acacio Valentim, a lesser-known staff member brought to Manchester United by Ruben Amorim, is actually one of the club’s key unsung heroes.
Since Amorim was let go in January 2026, a lot has changed in United’s backroom team. Some of Amorim’s staff, like Carlos Fernandes, Adelio Candido, Emanuel Ferro, Jorge Vital, and Paulo Barreira, moved with him to AC Milan. Now, under Michael Carrick, the coaching team includes Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Travis Binnion, Jonny Evans, and Craig Mawson.
But there’s one staff member from Amorim’s time who stayed on — Acacio Valentim. Amorim had specifically requested he join the club after working with him at Sporting Braga.
In a recent Sky Sports interview, Fernandes was asked about an unsung hero at United. Without hesitation, he said:
“Acacio [Valentim]. He’s our team manager who keeps us on track with timings, schedules, travel plans, and everything like that. Plus, he’s the best dresser at the club — by far!”
Valentim works as the first-team operations manager, handling important off-field tasks to help the team run smoothly. A detailed report from The Athletic last year noted that Valentim brought a fresh, open approach to the role, which had been held by Jackie Kay for a decade during her 30 years at the club. It also mentioned how well he connects with people across the club, something he’s clearly continued doing.
Manchester United advertised for the first-team operations manager role in 2025, which gave a clear picture of what the job involves. Valentim works closely with the first-team manager, technical director, and coaching staff as their main operations partner. He coordinates everything from administration, player support, security, kit, equipment, to travel and logistics. He also manages day-to-day details at Carrington, like training schedules and facility use.
On top of that, Valentim is a trusted contact for players, helping them with personal and professional matters, including unexpected issues. He also acts as a link between the football department and other parts of the club, always looking for ways to make things run better, using technology and data when possible.
All in all, Valentim plays a vital role behind the scenes, making sure everything off the pitch falls into place so the team can focus on performing their best.