Ruben Amorim: What is the big deal about Liverpool's target?

Liverpool's quest for a manager to replace the departing Jurgen Klopp remains after their primary target for the role, Xabi Alonso, revealed that he is staying at Bayer Leverkusen beyond this summer. 

The Spanish manager is currently leading the Bundesliga side's quest for their first league title in history, and his side are already close to the mark as they sit 13 points ahead of Bayern Munich, with just seven games to go. Last week, he confirmed his decision to stay at Bay Arena, claiming that support from fans and players was a major reason he made the decision. Though very understandable, his decision has disappointed many Liverpool fans, as they were hoping Alonso would take over in the summer when the managerial seat at Anfield becomes vacant. 

With Alonso entirely out of the way, Liverpool can concentrate on other managerial targets. Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi and Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim are the top two names on their list after Alonso, but the Sporting man is more likely to end up at Anfield, given how highly the Liverpool boffins rate him.

Just like their approach to signing players, Liverpool's search for a manager is data-driven rather than emotional or influenced by popular opinion. The Reds' recruitment team is notorious for being guided exclusively by data, with Michael Edwards, who recently returned to the club, one of the most popular names in the data business. This super-ball model has fetched Liverpool great success, as few players flop at Anfield. Simply put, Liverpool FC do their due diligence before signing, and they usually get it right.

According to several sources close to the club, Liverpool's data-crunching experts rank Ruben Amorim very highly. If everything goes according to plan, he will be the next Liverpool boss. The Anfield club has in-depth knowledge of the Portuguese market, with coaches Vitor Matos, Pep Lijnders, and former sporting director Julian Ward all possessing excellent contacts and links. So, the club has a wealth of information on Amorim and are reportedly willing to pay his €20 million release clause to acquire his services.

Amorim commands a lot of attention for a relatively unknown coach outside Portugal. He is seen as the next big thing after Jose Mourinho, and at a very young age, he has an impressive CV.

So, who is this guy called Ruben Amorim?

Here's everything you need to know about Ruben Amorim.

Age, nationality and footballing career 

The first thing you should know about Ruben Amorim is that he is from Portugal and is currently just 39 years old.

The Portuguese manager played football professionally and represented his country at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, but he was often on the periphery.

However, Amorim enjoyed success and longevity at club level, making over 322 appearances for Belenenses Benfica, Braga, and Al-Wakrah. He is best remembered for his six seasons at Benfica, where he won ten major titles.

Managerial career and Clubs Managed

After being forced to retire in 2017 at the young age of 32 due to a long-standing injury, Amorim began his coaching career in the 2018–19 season with third-division team Casa. 

But things went sour for him just five months into his coaching career. In January 2019, his team was deducted six points, and he was suspended from all activity for one year after giving instructions during a match without having the required coaching level. The bans were suspended shortly after, but Amorim presented his resignation in the aftermath.

But he didn't stop there and despite being very young in the coaching business, Amorim was very highly rated in Portugal. Nine months after quitting his first job, the Portuguese was appointed at Braga's reserves in the third tier. It was not long before he was managing the Braga first team, though, replacing the dismissed Ricardo Sá Pinto at the helm three months after his first job with Braga's reserves.

When Amorim was hired, the Minhotos were in eighth place in the league. But the Portuguese worked his magic at the club, taking them from eighth to third within months while going unbeaten domestically (W10, D3). He also won the domestic league cup final against Porto that season, and his only losses as Braga manager that campaign came in the round of sixteen of the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League against Rangers.

Despite overseeing just 13 games as a first-team coach in Braga, Sporting CP was convinced that Amorim was the real deal and hired him at the end of the season. The Portuguese side was so impressed with Amorim that they willingly paid his eight-figure buy-out clause, making him one of the most expensive managerial hires in history. 

The young manager repaid Sporting CP by winning the club's first title in 19 years in his first full season at the age of 36. Amorim has also won two Portuguese Cups in Lisbon over the last three full seasons.

This season, his Sporting Lisbon side is top of the Portuguese league table, with just two losses in 26 games (W22, D2). Not only is his side winning, but they are also scoring goals for fun, with their return of 77 goals by far the most in Portugal. This means that his side has outscored both Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen despite having played fewer league games.

Playing Style 

Like Klopp's Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool sides, Ruben Amorim's team is famed for its hardworking nature. The Portuguese coach emphasises hard work and dedication and demands the same from every member of his team, just like the man he wants to replace at Liverpool.

But while Klopp loves the 4-3-3 formation, Amorim prefers to play with a back three that can morph into a back five without the ball. The Portuguese considers having rapid wingers on both sides of his front three a priority regardless of his formation. 

However, he is tactically adaptable and can switch things up. He won his first league title at Sporting by primarily playing on the counterattack. He then tweaked his side the next season to play a more attractive brand of football, even though it didn't yield a good result as they finished fourth. His team has become a better unit this season, as they combine possession-based and counterattacking football.

Biggest Strength 

Though his tactical ability and awareness are excellent and highly appreciated, Amorim's leadership and communication skills are undoubtedly his biggest strengths.

The 39-year-old is a master communicator, and his charisma shines through in one-on-one meetings with his players, as well as in the face he presents to the media.

He also has a knack for developing young talents, which Liverpool will appreciate, as Klopp works well with young players. Since becoming Sporting's coach, the Lisbon club have made €323m from selling players. He is responsible for the development of players like Nuno Mendes, Viktor Gyökeres, Tiago Tomás, Gonçalo Inácio, Pedro Porro, Matheus Nunes, Pablo Sarabia, Marcus Edwards, Pedro Gonçalves, Eduardo Quaresma, Manuel Ugarte, Youssef Chermiti, Geny Catamo, who have all gone on to sign for big clubs or are valued at huge sums. 

Is Amorim a perfect fit for Liverpool?

Considering his rich dossier, Amorim is undoubtedly the kind of coach that should work at Liverpool.

The 39-year-old is tactically astute and has the maturity to lead the Reds. He is an excellent communicator and should have no issue connecting with Liverpool fans, who are often eager to back their managers. 

Amorim's ability to work with a tight budget is another factor that makes him a good candidate for the Liverpool job. Although the Reds can spend big when needed, they don't have spendthrift owners and often look for solutions in-house. Sporting have spent just €183 million on signing new players since Amorim became manager, compared to Benfica's spending in that period (€351m).

That said, there is no guarantee Amorim will succeed in England. Despite his brilliant CV, the 39-year-old has not achieved much in Europe. He has yet to progress beyond the quarterfinals, making him seem like a local champion in the eyes of many.

But it is expected that, with better quality in the Liverpool squad and the club's rich history in Europe, Amorim should be able to do well domestically and in Europe. His emphasis on dedication, hard work all-out attacking and defending should give many fans and neutrals a reason to buy Liverpool tickets if he does take the Anfield job.