Sporting’s Rúben Amorim speaks out on growing Liverpool links

Following Friday’s news that Bayer Leverkusen’s Spanish manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will stay at the German club for another season putting an end to the rumours that he could have joined Liverpool in the Premier League, the search at the Anfield club for a successor to Jurgen Klopp goes on.

“My work at Bayer Leverkusen is not over. I want to help the club, help the players to grow, the board are great... here everything is fantastic. I’m still a young coach, but I think this is the best decision for my future”, Alonso stated in a press conference on Friday.

Current Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp announced this season that he is set to step down as head coach of the club after 8 seasons in England, sparking links with various coaches across the world, with Alonso one of the stronger rumours along with the likes of Brighton’s Roberto de Zerbi, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, Julian Nagelsmann and even Jose Mourinho being linked to oversee the Reds next season.

One name, however is growing in weight to succeed the German with UK betting aggregator ‘Odds Checker’ now installing Sporting Clube de Portugal’s Rúben Amorim as firm favourite.

Amorim on Liverpool links

39-year-old Amorim has been on the Sporting bench since the 2019-20 season and guided the club to a double of the Taça da Liga and the Primeira Liga, ending the latter’s 19-year league title drought. These achievements won him the Primeira Liga’s Manager of the Year award in 2021.

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As things stand in the current season, his Sporting side are on track to win a league and cup double as they top the Betclic table with a one point advantage over fierce city rivals Benfica by one point with eight Games remaining in the season.

They also face Benfica in the Taça de Portugal and hold a 2-1 lead advantage from the first leg.

Following Friday’s hard-fought win over Estrela Amadora to secure three important title-race points, Amorim faced the media and was inevitably asked about the links with the Liverpool coaching position.

Amorim replied: “Liverpool? Right now I’m just focused on Sporting. I am very proud to be Sporting’s manager. I have a contract, and even more importantly than that, I’m very happy here. My focus is on beating Benfica.”