Four years and one month ago, Ruben Amorim sat before the sceptical assembled media having just been announced as Sporting CP’s new head coach.
The former Benfica midfielder had been in charge of rivals Braga for just 13 matches, his senior managerial career extending to 17 games. Lisbon’s begrudging second team had just paid £8.57m for his signature, then the third-highest figure ever for a manager.
He knew many were not convinced and knew the task in front of him was colossal. He had been hired to win Liga Portugal at a club that hadn’t for 18 years, with a side on their fourth manager of the season.
And so, with a wry smile, Amorim posed a question both to himself and to the doubters: “What if it goes well?”
Looking back from 2024, it’s hard to see what everyone was so worried about. Sporting stormed to the league and cup double in his first full season, before reaching the Champions League last 16 the following year. Amorim has re-established Sporting as a perennial title challenger and blooded some of the finest footballers in Europe.
This is why he is now the bookies’ favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss. Xabi Alonso was the leading candidate until he ruled himself out of the running, but there’s an argument Amorim was always the smart choice.
In a tactical sense, the 39-year-old is wedded to a three-at-the-back formation, but known for a flexible pragmatism in games. His sides tend to operate in a 3-4-3, with attacking wing-backs pushing high up the pitch and a midfield pivot pair both protecting the three centre-backs and progressing play towards the attacking trident.
The two midfielders and the centre-halves can be interchangeable in possession – one will often drop off to allow another to push forwards, helping Sporting always maintain control.
Off the ball, Amorim sides press as aggressively and intelligently as Klopp’s, something which will always be well received at Anfield. He also works closely on set-pieces, as evidenced by a steady supply of goals for his centre-backs.
Amorim’s front three has changed shape significantly across his four years in charge, but it always brings goals. It was first led by former Wolves academy product Pedro “Pote” Goncalves, then by current Wolves winger Pablo Sarabia, before the focus shifted this season to former Brighton and Coventry striker Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swede has 36 goals in 41 games this term, alongside 15 assists, a frankly ridiculous record by any standards, especially when Amorim’s previous centre-forward, Paulinho, had not scored more than 15 goals in a season under him. Paulinho has also scored 24 goals this season in an entirely new role, another sign of Amorim’s flexibility and perhaps a greater indicator of his immense skill – he invariably makes players better.
Pote was signed as a central midfielder from relative minnows Familicao in 2020, before going on to score 23 goals in the title-winning 2020-21 season as part of Amorim’s front three. Joao Palhinha, now at Fulham, returned from a loan exile with Braga to become one of Europe’s leading central midfielders.
Pedro Porro came in from Manchester City’s academy threatening to let his potential go to waste, but Amorim ensured that was not the case. Nuno Mendes, Matheus Nunes, Manuel Ugarte, now Goncalo Inacio and Ousmane Diomande – these are all prodigious talents Amorim has turned into world-beaters. That, among everything else, is perhaps the most valuable skill in the modern game, especially with Liverpool’s promising academy crop.
From his time as a warrior-leader midfielder who battled his way to 14 caps to his immaculate managerial career, Amorim has prioritised the psychological over the tactical. Late goals are a hallmark of his Sporting side, who are top of the league once more, a point ahead with a game in hand.
Amorim has the intellect and game understanding to find a compromise between any squad and his tactical beliefs, given complaints about Liverpool’s perceived suitability to play three-at-the-back.
And if he were to join Liverpool, above all else he would bring the same no-fear, win-at-all-costs mentality that has made Klopp a god on the Mersey. Like both Klopp and Pep, he doesn’t like working with superstars, but empowers every player to feel like one.
It has gone well so far. Everything only points to that continuing from here.
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