Liverpool look like they’re getting closer to appointing Ruben Amorim as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.
The Sporting manager had looked like one of the favourites for the job ever since Klopp announced his surprise departure in January.
And having seen Xabi Alonso take himself out of consideration, Amorim has since emerged as the leading candidate for the Reds. Some reports even claim that a deal has now been agreed between the Portuguese coach and Liverpool.
That would be superb news for the Reds. Amorim is one of the brightest young managers in the game and has even been likened to Klopp himself.
However, it hasn’t all been positive. Looking back through the annals of Amorim’s time with Sporting, and one spat with a disgruntled Arsenal player stands out.
What has been said about Ruben Amorim
Obviously, as a manager you’re never going to please everybody. You only have to look at the disputes Klopp has had during his years with Liverpool for evidence of that. He’s had his fair share of spats. And although he’s only been on the touchline for a couple of years, Amorim certainly has as well.
One of those came with Arsenal’s on-loan defender Nuno Tavares. The 24-year-old, who is with Nottingham Forest for the season, was at Marseille last term when he became embroiled in a row with the Sporting manager.
As per Sic Noticas, Tavares wasn’t happy with some comments he heard from the Lisbon team’s bench during a Champions League game in October 2022. When Amorim played down what was said as being ‘normal,’ the then Marseille player went on the offensive before the two teams played again.
“Obviously he didn’t want to talk about it,” Tavares said. “It doesn’t suit you, you know what I said. If I had respect for him, I just lost it in that game. Tomorrow we have another game, that’s the most important thing. Like he said, it’s over.
Having seen his team go on to lose 2-0 to Marseille, Amorim reportedly declared the matter to be over. However, Tavares was not having it, and kept the feud going.
“On the pitch he still tried to stir me up a little bit,” he said. “But I think he should be more concerned with keeping his players on the pitch than sending ‘little mouths’. But I don’t care about that anymore. We won the game, I’m happier with that. Have I made peace with him? I don’t have to do that, as I said, he tried to send me a few ‘mouthfuls’ on the pitch. I didn’t even care, I have more things to worry about. And sometimes, when you spit, it ends up falling on your forehead.”
Nicer comments about Ruben Amorim
These things happen in football sometimes. Clearly, you can’t please everyone, especially the opposition. But it’s worth pointing out that another Premier League star has recently spoken very highly of Amorim, too.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes isn’t the most popular man in Liverpool, no way. However, should Amorim end up at Anfield, then they’ll be interested to see what Fernandes has said about his countryman.
“If he really takes the next step – I hope he stays at Sporting – but if he takes the next step, I think all the qualities are there to be able to succeed in English, French, or Spanish football,” the United man raved via Metro.
Amorim appears to be a great leader and communicator who is revered by those who play under him. If he ruffles the opposition up in the meantime then, well, all the better.