Rúben Amorim on Man City shortlist to be next manager as uncertainty continues to hover around Guardiola’s future.
Rúben Amorim is on the shortlist to become Manchester City’s next boss.
Regarding his future, Guardiola stated over the weekend that “anything can happen.” It is evident how important it is for City to have a succession plan, and it makes sense to connect up with Amorim—who is thought to be among Europe’s top young managers. Hugo Viana, who will succeed Txiki Begiristain as City’s director of football next summer, has a tight relationship with the 39-year-old.
Viana, who has been with Sporting since 2018, will work with Begiristain prior to the 60-year-old’s retirement at the end of the season in order to ensure a seamless transfer. Guardiola has not yet decided whether to extend his contract, so there could be an instant recruitment problem. He hasn’t completely ruled out staying at City, who are eager to hold onto the world’s finest manager.
There are hints that Amorim will be a strong candidate for any opening at City. The Portuguese was a candidate to succeed Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool in the summer of last year and has long been a target of elite teams. Amorim, who ended up missing out on the Liverpool job to Arne Slot, has also had discussions with Chelsea in recent years.
He was on West Ham’s mind most recently when they were considering David Moyes’ replacement. After travelling to London for negotiations, Amorim left for Portugal without reaching a deal. After speaking to West Ham and disrespecting his employers, Amorim—who had won his second Portuguese championship with Sporting the previous season—apologised.
When it came to Amorim’s potential move to West Ham, who ultimately hired Julen Lopetegui, there was considerable doubt at the time. The former Braga manager is happy to remain at Sporting as he looks for a more prestigious position. Especially in 2022, when he defeated Tottenham in the Champions League and eliminated Arsenal from the Europa League, he demonstrated his skill to Premier League teams competing in Europe.