Ruben Amorim could be about to do something that even Xabi Alonso hasn’t done yet, and that’s why Liverpool want him.
We cannot deny Xabi Alonso was everyone’s favourite to take on the Liverpool job until he made his decision clear to stay at Bayer Leverkusen.
After lifting a historic Bundesliga title, there are no questions marks about why he would have been a brilliant appointment for Liverpool.
Alonso has achieved unparalleled success at Bayer Leverkusen. He has completely transformed the side and made them into a team that is still currently unbeaten this season.
In the course of all of that Alonso has also turned Leverkusen from a team who were doubted as ‘neverkusen’ for their inability to win the league title, to a team that now believes in itself supremely
Alonso would have been a perfect fit for the Reds at Anfield. However, he isn’t the only potential candidate for the club.
What Ruben Amorim could be about to do that Alonso hasn’t
The other favourite candidate to succeed, Klopp at Liverpool is Ruben Amorim. Like Alonso, he comes with a really impressive resume.
At Sporting CP, Amorim won the league title with the club for the first time in 19 years. He also won a Portuguese cup with Braga, and is known for giving young players an opportunity.
Under him, a myriad of players have turned into world-class prospects. The latest of those players is Viktor Gyokeres, who is in incredible form this season.
In terms of achievements and the work that they have done, Amorim is definitely on par with Alonso. If anything, there is something that actually puts him above Alonso right now.
Winning a first league title is difficult, but it’s not as difficult as retaining that league title or winning a second one.
When you’re the underdog and you win the league there are no expectations. However, when everyone expects you to win, that’s when winning the league becomes more difficult, and you have to deal with more pressure.
Alonso hasn’t had the time to showcase his ability to do that. But Amorim has. After winning his first league title with Sporting CP, this season he is on course to win a second one thus proving the first one wasn’t just a mere fluke.
Why that makes Ruben Amorim a better candidate for Liverpool
We know FSG and Michael Edwards in particular like to address a lot of data before making acquisitions.
In data sample size is really important. At this moment in time even though Amorim is three years younger than Alonso, he has a much bigger sample size as manager at an elite level.
Alonso has been in charge of Leverkusen for 18 months. Meanwhile, Amorim has been working in Portuguese football for almost five years now. His sample size is a lot bigger and he has proven himself for a lot longer so far.
That is why Amorim might be a less riskier option for Liverpool in comparison to Alonso.