Ruben Amorim managed Pedro Porro for two-and-a-half years at Sporting (Picture: Getty)
Tottenham star Pedro Porro has tipped Ruben Amorim for the top and likened the Sporting head coach to Ange Postecoglou amid speculation he could take charge of Liverpool in the summer.
Amorim, 39, is regarded as one of the finest young managers in European football and has reportedly been identified as Liverpool’s first-choice candidate to take over the reins from Jurgen Klopp.
Xabi Alonso had been the clear favourite for the job but effectively ruled himself out of the running by committing his immediate future to Bayer Leverkusen, the newly crowned Bundesliga champions, last month.
Recent reports emanating from Germany indicated Amorim had been offered a three-year deal and reached an agreement in principle to manage the Merseyside giants.
However, the Portuguese vehemently denied these rumours last week, insisting he remained fully focussed on the remainder of Sporting’s season, with the club sitting seven points clear of champions Benfica at the top of the Primeira Liga table.
Amorim steered Sporting to the club’s most recent league title in 2021/22 and Porro played a key role after arriving on loan from Manchester City that season, making 30 appearances across the campaign.
Porro would spend a further 18 months in Lisbon before completing a move to Spurs and it’s clear the Spaniard has fond memories of his time under Amorim.
Sporting head coach Amorim has ‘a special way of working’, according to Porro (Picture: Getty)
‘He is young, has a lot of ambition, a little bit like Ange Postecoglou here at Tottenham,’ the Tottenham right-back told Portuguese publication Expresso.
‘He always wants more and that is what makes him one of the most talked about managers, coveted by so many teams in Europe.
‘He has a special way of working and goes toe to toe against any opponent, which is also similar to what we do at Tottenham, there are several similarities.
‘It is well known and recognised how Sporting and Tottenham play, there is a clear identity, whether winning 5-0 or losing 5-0.’
Amorim is the bookmakers’ favourite to become Liverpool manager (Picture: Getty)
Nemanja Matic – who played with Amorim at Benfica – is not surprised by the Portuguese’s exceptional start to life in management and believes he would be a ‘great replacement’ for Klopp at Anfield.
‘I see Ruben Amorim at a great club,’ the Lyon midfielder, formerly of Manchester United and Chelsea, told O Jogo this week.
‘I don’t know if it will be Liverpool, but if it happens I’m sure he’ll be a great replacement for Klopp.
‘Ruben understands football and has the personality and character to be a great coach. He already is at the moment.
‘I’d like to see him in the Premier League, let’s see what happens from now on.’
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