Ruben Amorim has emerged as a number one prospect for a variety of top European clubs this summer – with Liverpool reportedly having verbally agreed in principle to a cope with highly-rated Sporting CP manager.
Amorim, 39, is the favorite to exchange Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, with the German stepping down at the end of the season after eight-and-a-half years at the club.
The Portuguese coach, who has managed Sporting Lisbon since 2020, is also in the sights of Bayern Munich, who want to exchange Thomas Tuchel, and Barcelona, whose club legend Xavi Hernandez may even leave at the end of the season.
Amorim’s stock has risen significantly over his four-year tenure at Sporting, during which he broke the club’s 19-year title drought with a memorable Primeira Liga triumph in 2021 and a League Cup victory.
However, all his rapid successes as a coach are the results of a 14-year profession as a player, during which he played 14 times for the Portuguese national team.
Amorim, from Lisbon, made his senior debut in 2003 for Belenenses in the Portuguese first division, before signing for Benfica in the summer of 2008.
It was at the Estadio da Luz that he spent most of his playing days, making 154 appearances over six seasons that saw him fall out and in of favor with long-time coach Jorge Jesus, playing mainly as a central midfielder, but in addition on the right. -back.
In one such incident, Amorim criticized Jesus’ player selection and refused to coach with the substitutes after one match. As a result, from January 2012 to the summer of 2013, he spent 18 months on loan in Braga.
However, he returned to Benfica the following yr and enjoyed his most trophy-laden season as a player, winning the domestic treble. However, he soon suffered an anterior cruciate ligament, and although he spent one season on loan at Al-Wakrah in Qatar, he retired in 2017 at the age of 32 after greater than a yr out of motion.
Amorim made his national team debut at the 2010 World Cup and was also used at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
After retiring from football, he aimed to finish his coaching qualifications and his first job as manager was with third division team Casa Pia, although he received a one-year suspension for giving instructions during a match without the required completion of his coaching badges.
Nevertheless, after being appointed as Braga’s reserve coach in September 2019, he became head coach of the first team in December.
Amorim won the Portuguese League Cup during his short two-month tenure in Braga before Sporting poached the young manager for €10 million and went for the manager’s young protégé.
It turned out to be an inspiring meeting.
He won the Portuguese League Cup twice with Sporting and is on course to win his second title this season. At the time of writing (April 9, 2024), Sporting are 4 points clear of Benfica at the top of the table after a dramatic injury-time victory over their city rivals.
However, they were eliminated from the Europa League at the round of 16 stage by Atalanta, who will face Liverpool in the quarter-finals.
Amorim, who speaks fluent English after completing some UEFA coaching qualifications in Belfast, is known for his strong personality, tactical knowledge and laid-back attitude.
He typically fielded a high-intensity 3-4-3 formation at Sporting and likewise took possibilities on hidden gems equivalent to English winger Marcus Edwards and former Coventry striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Other players who played under his successful manager included Fulham’s Joao Palhinha, Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes and Tottenham’s Pedro Porro.
With Xabi out, Alonso Amorim is now the hot favorite to take over at Anfield, with reports from Germany suggesting a three-year deal has been verbally agreed, although Liverpool insist nothing has been agreed yet.
Credit : www.independent.co.uk
