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Only 29 per cent of Liverpool fans voted in favour of making Ruben Amorim the successor to Jurgen Klopp next month. The Reds are just weeks away from waving Klopp goodbye after nine years at Anfield and are putting plans in place to confirm his replacement.
The German declared in January that he is “running out of energy” at Liverpool and that he can no longer do the job to the best of his abilities. Liverpool wanted Xabi Alonso to succeed him but the Spanish tactician will remain with Bayer Leverkusen after leading them to Bundesliga glory.
And Sporting’s Amorim has emerged as the likeliest candidate for the position since. The 39-year-old looks poised to deliver the Lisbon club a second title from his four full seasons in charge this term.
Sporting are seven points clear of Benfica with five games to go and face Porto in the Taca de Portugal final on May 26. Amorim has publicly denied reports that he has an agreement in place already to replace Klopp.
But he is thought to be the No.1 option with the Portuguese coach marked out as a strong personality with an impressive tactical philosophy. In an Express Sport poll, Liverpool fans voted for who they want to replace Klopp.
Amorim received 29 per cent of the votes while Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi collected 17 per cent of the responses. Julian Nagelsmann, who has now committed to remaining the Germany manager beyond the 2026 World Cup, got 13 per cent with Ange Postecoglou the Tottenham boss on nine per cent.
But a huge 32 per cent voted in favour of ‘other’. Wolves’ Gary O’Neil, the former assistant coach of Liverpool’s under-23s, is another option but Niko Kovac, the former Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayern Munich boss, is not on the shortlist.
Simone Inzaghi is working wonders with Inter Milan but the Italian is not expected to leave Italy any time soon. Other outside options include the jobless trio of Hansi Flick, Jose Mourinho, and Graham Potter.
Thomas Tuchel will also leave Bayern Munich at the end of the year. Amorim is far likelier than those names to get the job, though.
But there are clearly some concerns within the Liverpool fanbase about appointing Amorim. Ex-Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic played with former midfielder Amorim at Benfica and has nonetheless endorsed him for the position.
“Ruben Amorim is an excellent person,” Matic told O Jogo. “He was one of those who helped me the most when I arrived at Benfica because he speaks English very well.
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“I see Ruben Amorim at a big club, I don’t know if it will be Liverpool, but if it happens I’m sure he’ll be a great replacement for Klopp because Ruben understands football and has the personality and character to be a great coach – he already currently is. I would like to see him in the Premier League.
Let’s see what happens from now on.” Similarly, Fulham’s Joao Palhinha who played under the manager at Sporting, said: “If he does get appointed by Liverpool, I have no doubts that people will like his personality.
“I believe he is a great option to replace Jurgen Klopp but we don’t know if that will happen. Either way, he’s going to make a huge step in his career at some point.
You cannot compare Sporting with a world-class side like Liverpool but there is also great pressure on a manager who is expected to fight for titles in Portugal and he’s used to dealing with that.”