If the most memorable part of Jurgen Klopp’s first news conference as Liverpool manager was turning “doubters into believers,” then those in attendance at Ruben Amorim’s Sporting introduction will remember an equally well-known quote.
In March 2020, Amorim’s 13-match top-flight managing tenure at Braga came to an abrupt end when, at the age of 35, he was appointed manager of one of Portugal’s major teams.
When the media questioned Amorim about his plans for what to do if his lack of experience proved to be a hindrance to his success at Estadio Jose Alvalade—a legitimate question considering that he had only managed a half-dozen games—he reportedly turned the tables on them.
Sincerity betrayed in his question, “But what if it goes well?” It was an iconic backhand.
According to a Portuguese-based source, “that sentence he said is one that everyone remembers to this day.” “‘What if it works out well?’ He was correct; Sporting hadn’t won the Primeira Liga since 2002. It really went rather nicely.”
As one would say, doubters were converted to believers.
“I had my doubts,” confesses Sporting supporter Antonio Lopes. “Spending so much money to a competitor for a manager that has the necessary coaching qualifications? It also didn’t quite feel well with me given his previous ties to Benfica, to put it mildly.
But his comment from his first news conference—”what if it goes well?—hit a true home run. It attracted my attention since it exuded hope and confidence. His charm and humility were also difficult to miss. I began to believe that perhaps he might be a good fit for Sporting after all.”
Two years after he arrived in 2020, Sporting won the Portuguese championship for the first time in over 20 years, and the Verde e Brancos were once again a legitimate contender against Benfica and Porto, the other two titans of the Portuguese game.
This figure is strikingly similar to the one that enabled Klopp to end Liverpool’s thirty-year title drought an only few months after Amorim took over as Sporting manager. The fact that such memories are still quite recent in Anfield’s collective consciousness serves to emphasize the ascent of a coach who is currently the front-runner to manage the Reds later this season.
“Sporting’s recent success is largely down to Ruben,” adds the source. “When he arrived, it was the last gamble of Sporting’s current board of directors. Because he was the fourth coach in two years, the football wasn’t attractive and Sporting weren’t fighting for the championship. But it was a risky move. Because Sporting paid Braga 10m Euros for Amorim. Which is unthinkable in the context of Sporting and Portuguese football.”
It was “unthinkable” how highly valued Amorim was by the Lisbon club’s decision-makers if the sum paid to sign him from Braga made him one of the most costly managerial hires ever. Their confidence has paid off, as Amorim has seen an exceptionally quick ascent to the top of the list to succeed Klopp at Anfield.
If Liverpool wants to force him out of the Portuguese capital, they will have to pay a correspondingly large sum. In light of the going rate for individuals on the field in 2024, the number itself is still very low, with recent reports putting it between £13m and £18m.
Some Anfield employees have publicly expressed their shock at Xabi Alonso’s choice to remain with Bayer Leverkusen this summer. Before the former Reds midfielder publicly declared on Friday that he would be staying put at the end of a campaign that is now almost certain to yield them a Bundesliga title, the news earlier in the year that Thomas Tuchel would be leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the campaign complicated matters.
It has been pressed upon further up the Liverpool hierarchy that a more receptive attitude has been maintained and that since it was discreetly communicated to them that Alonso would be remaining in Germany, attention and interest in other players, such as Amorim, have increased even more.
People who know Amorim talk about his lack of ego, rigorous work ethic, and humility. The absence of even a hint of egotism can be viewed negatively in the competitive world of Premier League football, but there is a strong character trait that is believed to be demanding and strict in the locker room.
“Ruben has his ideas and rules for the working group, but if someone isn’t aligned with those there will be no problem,” Ricardo Sodre states. However, Ruben won’t mind if someone disregards his demands—even a fan favorite like Islam Slimani, who was reportedly fired from Sporting for criticizing Amorim’s choices. The accusations state that he believed he should have been selected over Paulinho for the starting lineup.”
Those who have tested his intelligence on his teams have lauded his organizational abilities. He also reportedly has good communication skills, which would come in handy when managing a talented and motivating speaker such as Klopp.
The preferred tactical structure is a 3-4-3, but with more creative players occupying the wider midfield slots typically occupied by wing-backs, Sporting has risen to the top of Portuguese football once again this season with ten games remaining to be played. They have 16 more goals than Benfica, who are second in the division.
Though the Sporting coach is still only 39 years old, Amorim gets along well with his assistant, Carlos Fernandes, who is ten years younger than his boss. It is reported that Fernandes has developed into a crucial sounding board for people who are aware of the relationship.
One person says, “He surrounds himself with expertise in areas where he is not the strongest,” while supporters of Amorim’s qualifications point out that he is prepared to give young players a chance and devote time and resources to their growth.
For instance, when Amorim signed 19-year-old Ousmane Diomande from Danish club Midtjylland—following a loan stint at Portuguese second division team Mafra—some people raised an eyebrow. In less than 18 months, Liverpool is among the several elite clubs keeping an eye on the Ivory Coast center back. One comments, “He had the balls to play him.”
At Liverpool, though, getting top dollar for players who leave is not their first priority. Observing how players like Eduardo Quaresma, Pedro Goncalves, Diomande, and Goncalo Inacio have all progressed under Amorim’s tutelage will be of more interest. That might be encouraging for an Academy structure that has flourished in the limelight this season thanks to Klopp’s willingness and belief.
However, some people in Portuguese football circles have doubts about Amorim’s capacity to manage a bigger presence within Liverpool’s playing group. Some believe the Sporting manager would not want to take on the challenge of dealing with the egos at a team the magnitude of the Reds since he lacks significant experience with them.
There is conjecture among some figures in Portuguese football circles about Amorim’s ability to handle a higher level of profile among the playing squad at Liverpool, however. For some, the egos at a club the size of the Reds is not something the Sporting boss has huge experience of and it’s not prospect he would care to take on.
One says, “He doesn’t like stars.” “He makes sure that the whole squad feels they have equal rights and a place in the team.” Antonio, a sports fan, continues, “He puts team players first and we haven’t had those superstar personalities in the locker room. He finds that having too much ego bothers him.”
It is said that Amorim would have objected to the thought of Cristiano Ronaldo going back to his childhood club following his departure from Manchester United in early 2023. However, some have brushed off the idea that it would raise serious issues at a team like Liverpool, who are rarely involved in any player-related public controversy.
The fact that Amorim is handled by the same Nomi Sports agency that represents Reds winger Luis Diaz could be intriguing. Agent Raul Pais da Costa’s persuasiveness in 2022 persuaded Diaz to reject Manchester United’s tentative interest and Tottenham’s intense charm offensive in favor of Liverpool. The agent was subsequently given a private pat on the back for his efforts in helping the Reds sign the Porto winger.
Should interest in Amorim increase over the next several weeks, the club’s vast network of contacts with Portuguese organizations, as well as their friendship and past business dealings with Pais da Costa, may still play a crucial role in what transpires. It’s evident that Liverpool has all the information they require to decide, come rain or shine, on the outcome of the run-in.
“For Sporting, it’s a case of not when [Amorim leaves] but where,” declares one. They might receive their response in the near future.
He would be taking over at Liverpool, a team that has some of the biggest expectations in the league, from one of the most renowned managers in Anfield history—Jurgen Klopp. It’s an incredibly difficult responsibility for a coach of his age. However, what if everything goes smoothly?
