Nine things you need to know about reported Liverpool target Ruben Amorim

The 39-year-old Sporting Club de Portugal manager has been touted as Liverpool’s alternative to Xabi Alonso. He has also been linked with Barcelona with Xavi leaving the Nou Camp at the end of the season. 

Bayern Munich are looking to replace the departing Thomas Tuchel and reports have emerged that clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea may also be looking to appoint a new manager. 

Amorim will be a name discussed across a host of top European clubs in the coming months.

Planet Sport’s Connor Burgess looks at nine things you need to know about why one of Europe’s most sought-after managers could be the man to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

Quick rise to senior management

Amorim started his managerial career at Braga, where he was appointed as the reserves (Braga B) head coach in September 2019 in the third tier of Portuguese football.

Three months later, he was promoted to manage the first team following the dismissal of Ricardo Sa Pinto. Amorim went on to win his first match in senior management 7-1 away to Belenenses SAD on January 4.

During his time at Braga, he recorded the side’s first away win against Benfica in 65 years. Fulham’s Joao Palhinha scored the only goal of the match in first-half stoppage time.

Amorim only suffered two defeats during his short tenure at Braga, both coming at the hands of Rangers in the Europa League Round of 16.

Won his first trophy only three weeks into management

It only took three weeks for Amorim to win the first trophy of his managerial career.

His Braga side faced off against Porto in the 2020 Taca de Liga final with the latter heavy favourites to win the cup.

It was a tight and cagey affair with Amorim’s Braga holding their own against Porto.

The break came in the 94th minute when a ricocheted shot fell into the path of Ricardo Horta who managed to find his feet and score the winner for Braga.

Amorim managed to secure Braga’s second Taca de Liga in the club’s history so early into his managerial career - a remarkable feat for any top-flight manager.

He boasts a 71% win percentage

Amorim’s record in management speaks for itself. His 153 wins out of 217 games equates to a win percentage of 71% and an average of 2.26 points per game.

His side set the record for the longest unbeaten streak in Liga Portugal history, going 32 matches without losing.

He also became the fastest manager to 50 wins in the league, doing so in only 66 games.

Amorim helped Sporting reach the Champions League Round of 16 in the 2021/22 season where they bowed out to Manchester City. It was the first time Sporting had reached the knockout stages of the competition since the 2008/09 season.

Sporting have had European success against English sides during Amorim’s reign. The Lions beat Tottenham 2-0 at the Jose Alvalade in the group stage of last season's Champions League. They finished third and dropped into the Europa League where they faced Arsenal, knocking out the Gunners on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw.

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He employs a 3-4-3 system

Amorim has employed a 3-4-3 system throughout his managerial career. The system has found profound success in Portugal as Amorim has drastically changed Sporting’s fortunes on the pitch.

His system focuses on a possession-based style of play and a high press starting with the front line. The emphasis is on the attacking full-backs to push forward and attack down the lines - and he asks his players to interchange on the attack to confuse the opposition and open the space for goalscoring opportunities.

The two holding midfielders are tasked with protecting the defence when the full-backs push up the pitch. Amorim attacks with five players pressing the opposition and the other five maintaining their shape to defend the transition.

When playing against a low-block defence, Amorim switches to a diamond in the centre of the park, asking one of his three centre-backs to push up to holding midfield and create an overload against the opposition.

The free-flowing brand of football Amorim has stamped on Sporting is reminiscent of the heights of Klopp’s Liverpool. It is an identical style of play wearing a different face in way of the 3-4-3 tactical shape, but with the versatile players that would be at Amorim’s disposal, it could prove to be a smooth transition for the Liverpool players.

He has an incredible trophy-winning record in Portugal

Braga’s 2020 Taca da Liga triumph over Porto would be the start of an incredible record in the competition for Amorim.

He continued this success at Sporting, facing off against his former side Braga in the final in the following year. 

Now Tottenham full-back Pedro Porro scored the only goal of the game to win Amorim his second Taca da Liga trophy - the same match in which he was sent to the stands for arguing with Braga boss Carlos Carvalhal.

Amorim would then record his third consecutive win in this competition with a 2-1 victory over Porto. Goncalo Inacio and Pablo Sarabia were the scorers on the day.

However, the manager secured Sporting’s first Liga Portugal for 19 years in the 2020/21 season, perhaps his greatest managerial achievement to date.

Amorim then secured Sporting’s first Liga Portugal in 19 years during the 2020/21 season in his first full season in charge of the club.

His side only lost once throughout the league campaign, a 4-3 away loss to Benfica in the penultimate game of the season.

Known in Portugal for his man management, backing his players and passion

Exceptional man management, publicly backing the team and exuberating passion have become staples of Klopp’s tenure at Anfield. It is reported that FSG have identified those qualities as important criteria when identifying the German’s replacement.

The Portuguese is not afraid to voice his opinions on the touch line. In Sporting’s 2021 Taca de Liga win over Braga, Amorim was sent to the stands alongside Carvalhal for an intense argument in the dugout. 

Liverpool fans are no stranger to this form of passion - Klopp and Mikel Arteta engaged in a screaming match during Arsenal’s trip to Anfield in the 2021/22 season.

With the match 0-0 at the time, the argument sparked the Anfield crowd into life and Liverpool ran out 4-0 winners on the day.

Portuguese football journalist Tom Kundert, via This is Anfield, believes his man management is the key to his success, saying: “I’d definitely say his strong suit is his man management. He’s really good at creating a good atmosphere amongst the squad, a really good spirit of togetherness. I’ve never heard him criticise any of his players directly, not once.”

Ricardo Esgaio gave away a penalty inside the first 20 minutes of their UEFA Champions League tie against Marseille last season. The right-back was issued a second yellow card and sent off as Sporting slumped to a 2-0 defeat at home, a result which would see the Portuguese side dumped into the Europa League.

Under intense scrutiny from the fans, Amorim issued a statement post-match, pledging his unwavering support for his defender. 

He said: “He’s not one of the fans’ favourite players, but he’s one of mine. As long as I am here, I will protect him as much as possible. He will never be abandoned by his manager and as long as I’m here there’s nothing you can do to Esgaio.”

Amorim’s support for his players will no doubt go down well with the Anfield faithful and ensure the togetherness of the squad, that has been integral to Liverpool’s success over the years, remains intact.

Sporting paid 10m to take him from Braga - the fifth highest transfer fee for a manager

Amorim joined Sporting Club de Portugal on March 4, 2020 after only two months of experience in Portugal's top flight.

Sporting paid €10million to acquire his services and stands as the fifth highest fee paid for a manager - only behind Brendan Rodgers to Leicester, Andre Villas-Boas to Chelsea, Julian Nagelsmann to Bayern Munich and Graham Potter to Chelsea.

Given Anorim’s short tenure in management, the willingness of Sporting to pay such a price for his services speaks volumes on what they believed he could achieve.

The Lions inserted a €20million release clause into his contract, which was increased to €30million when Amorim extended his contract until 2026.

Should FSG decide Amorim is the man to usher in the new era at Anfield they will have to be certain - doing so will make Amorim the most expensive managerial appointment in the history of the sport.

Amorim has developed a host of top talent

The Liga Portugal’s top three of Sporting, Benfica and Porto have a proven track record for producing and developing top quality players ready to make the next step in their careers.

Amorim has continued his tradition with his Sporting side and has developed a host of talent that are now playing in the top five European leagues and elite European clubs.

Pedro Porro has been in exceptional form for Ange Postecoglu’s Tottenham side, notching eight assists in the Premier League as his side push for a top-four finish.

Joao Palhinha first played under Amorim during a loan spell at Braga and continued to flourish under the manager at Sporting. Now plying his trade at Fulham, the defensive midfielder saw a deadline-day move to Bayern Munich fail to materialise last summer and seems destined to leave London for pastures new.

Matheus Nunes signed for Wolves in the summer of 2022 and lasted one season before signing for Treble winners Manchester City. He has since played a bit-part role at the Etihad but has continued to show his quality when called upon.

Manuel Ugarte was picked up from Famalicao in 2021 for €6.5million in 2021. After establishing himself as one of the most promising young defensive midfielders in Europe under Amorim, he was heavily linked in the summer 2023 transfer window with Liverpool, Chelsea and PSG.

However, it would be PSG who won the race for the Uruguayan. Paying €60million for Ugarte, the highest transfer fee received in Sporting’s history.

With the likes of Goncalo Inacio, Ousmane Diomande, Marcus Edwards and summer signing Viktor Gyokeres linked with moves away from Portugal, they will all be ones to keep an eye on should Amorim find himself at Anfield for the start of next season.

Works wonders with limited resources

Sporting has acted as a feeder club for the top five leagues in Europe. Players such as Matheus Nunes, Pedro Porro, Joao Palhinha and Manuel Ugarte all were sold in the last couple of years for fees amounting to €157.8million profit for the club.

Without the financial muscle to sign like-for-like replacements, Sporting have had to rely on expert recruitment and development from within their academy.

The Portuguese side have recruited the likes of Ivan Fresneda, Morten Hjulmand, Hidemasa Morita and Ousmane Diomande for a combined total of €38million. 

Amorim has proven himself capable of identifying cut-price players that can fit his 3-4-3 system and flourish, with those acquisitions all featuring heavily in this season’s title charge.

He is also not shy of promoting players from within, a trait we have seen at Liverpool often this season with Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Jayden Danns benefiting from the club’s injury crisis.

Goncalo Inacio and Daniel Braganca have both been brought up through the Sporting youth system and have played their part in Amorim’s success. Even Eduardo Quaresma, fresh from a loan to Hoffenheim last season, has been excellent when called upon.

Gyokeres stands as Sporting’s record signing at €20million from Coventry. The Swede has been a revelation in Portugal, providing 19 goals and eight assists in 23 appearances to send Amorim within touching distance of a second league title.

The size of the transfer fee in comparison to the riches of the Premier League is pocket change and whilst FSG have proven their ability to spend big on the right player, Amorim’s ability to identify talent for a cut-price will certainly work in his favour.

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