Jose Mourinho was uncharacteristically coy when asked what the future may hold for one of the many, many managers linked with the Manchester United post.
One of Erik ten Hag‘s Old Trafford predecessors would not be drawn on where the path could lead. Or, indeed, where it should lead.
What Jose Mourinho did say, however, is that he is a big admirer of a 39-year-old coach who ended his club’s two-decade wait for league glory in 2021, and could add another domestic title to his collection before potentially riding off into a glorious sunset.
Ruben Amorim became the first Sporting Lisbon coach since the days of a brace-wearing, blonde-tipped Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Primeira Liga few years back.
Now, only three games left of the current campaign, Sporting are three points clear of neighbours Benfica, and have a Portuguese cup final with FC Porto to look forward to.
Ruben Amorim is one of Manchester United’s options
With The Athletic reporting that Ineos are still planning ahead with the idea that Erik ten Hag will remain in situ at Manchester United – the new owners reportedly feel that there is a shortage of stand-out replacements – Amorim completing a league and cup double over the next few weeks will do no harm at all to the former Portugal international’s reputation.
The Times reported last year that Amorim would be a contender for the Manchester United job if it became available.
“It’s also a question I shouldn’t answer,” Mourinho told Mais Futebol when asked about his compatriot’s next step.
“What can I tell you? I like him as a person. (And) I like him as a coach. I think he has the qualities to coach in any league and he has the qualities to train at any club. But he’s in a good league and he’s at a big club (now).
“The decision is his and it will be up to the clubs that want him, or don’t want him, to convince him. What is clear from my side is that I like the person and I like the coach.”
Amorim – who has an admirer in United captain Bruno Fernandes – has been nicknamed the ‘anti-Mourinho’ by some.
While Jose is arguably football’s great pragmatist, ex-Braga boss Amorim is more of a purist, steadfast in his belief in free-flowing, attack-heavy football. Under his stewardship, the United-linked striker extraordinaire Viktor Gyokeres broke the 40-goal barrier on Sunday.
The feeling is, however, that Amorim is likely to stay in situ at Sporting until 2025 as things stand. By his own admission, he took the wrong step flying out to England for talks with West Ham last week. Also heavily favoured by Liverpool, by the time Amorim returned to Portugal after opening negotiations with The Hammers, Arne Slot had overtaken him in the race to take Jurgen Klopp’s spot.
West Ham and Liverpool moves now unlikely
“So, let’s get the elephant out of the room and I’ll talk about it once,” Amorim said in a rather obvious attempt to clear the air. “The first thing is to say that the club was aware of my trip (to London). It’s important and changes the context.
“Obviously my trip was a mistake. The timing was completely wrong. It was wrong, especially when I’m so demanding with my players and always the first to say that each one’s actions can overpower the team. I have already removed players from the squad for much less.
“It was my mistake, I have to accept it and live with it.
“It didn’t seem so bad at the time, but thinking about it later it’s very clear,” adds Amorim, who became the third-most expensive coach in history when Sporting triggered the £9 million clause in his contract following only 13 matches in charge of Braga.
“I gave explanations to the players and the staff. Now it’s time to move on. Obviously, I also use the public part here to apologise to the Sporting fans, the staff and, mainly publicly to my players for the mistake I made.
“It was a mistake because the fact that we are close to winning the championship, nothing has been done yet, and the team leader causes this noise, is a mistake. Whether or not he is authorised. And I’m the biggest defender of that. That’s why I said it is an error.”
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