After been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich at the end of last season, Rúben Amorim finally got his big move – and he couldn’t have asked for a harder gig.
By Alex Roberts
Manchester United have gained one of the most exciting coaches on the continent, replacing a man who was similarly regarded after guiding Ajax to a Champions League semi-final and two Eredivisie titles.
Similarities don’t end there. Much like Erik ten Hag, Rúben Amorim took the helm at Sporting during a period of crisis. Fans were so unhappy; they broke into the training ground and physically assaulted the players back in 2018.
A first league title in 18 years back in 2020/21 and a second in 2023/24 helped smooth things over, but all of that is in the distance past now, and the Lisbon side will have to prepare for life without their talismanic manager.
Amorim couldn’t have wished for a better send-off. A 4-1 home win over soon-to-be rival Pep Guardiola to plunge Man City into crisis somewhat overshadowed the fireworks and tears before the game. And that was followed by a 4-2 comeback win at Braga, where Sporting scored three goals in the last 10 minutes of the game.
Former Sporting B manager João Pereira is the man who has been given the unenviable task of filling Amorim’s beautifully tailored boots and he has a lot of work to do if he wants to build upon what he’s inherited.
Since Ten Hag left, Ajax are yet to win another shield, a fate that Sporting and their new manager, Pereira, will hope to avoid now that Amorim is gone. Thankfully they have an ace in the hole, arguably the best striker in the world.
With 23 goals in his first 18 games across all competitions, no striker on the planet is playing like Viktor Gyökeres, not even the big Norwegian over in Manchester can compete.
His hattrick against Man City in the Champions League was his crowning moment. Yes, two of them were penalties, but his first goal showed the world exactly what he’s capable of, breaking away before slowly dinking it past Ederson.
On the pitch, the transition should be seamless for Sporting. There isn’t much of a difference between Pereira and his old boss in terms of tactics, Pereira also likes to play with three central defenders and bombing wingbacks.
Like under Amorim, there will be a high defensive line and not an excessive amount of pressing, but enough to keep the opposition on their toes.
His greatest challenge will come off the pitch, however. Sporting’s players loved Amorim. During the summer transfer window, Gyökeres’ agent came out and said he would have left the club if the manager hadn’t remained.
Gyökeres and midfielder Morten Hjulmand were reportedly furious when they found out Amorim would be leaving. Results haven’t changed since the announcement, but if one result doesn’t go there way, all that positive feeling built up could fly out the window.
Pereira isn’t off to the best of starts. He’s yet to manage a game and he’s already in trouble with Portugal’s National Association of managers, with President Jose Pereira (no relation) saying, “We cannot recognise him as Sporting’s coach as he does not have the certification required to carry out his duties.”
If you’re a fan of omens, Amorim had a similar issue when he took over at Casa Pia. Although the club were deducted six points and he was suspended from all footballing activity for a year, he turned out pretty well for Sporting.
Their first game of the post-Amorim era will come against Amarante FC in the Taça de Portugal, a little warm up for the real test just four days later, a Champions League tie with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at the Estádio José Alvalade.
The Leões remain the only side in Europe’s top six leagues with a 100% record, comfortably sitting 11 points above second placed Porto at the top of the table and well on course to lift a second consecutive title for the first time since 1954.
The club’s incredible start to the season, as well as strong showings in the previous few, mean the vultures will soon come sniffing, and players like Gyökeres will likely leave for pastures new.
Man United have inevitably been linked but Amorim has promised not to sign any Sporting players in the January transfer window, and it may already be too late when the summer rolls around.
Gyökeres and Amorim aren’t the first to leave Sporting for bigger and (maybe) better things, and they certainly won’t be the last. Throughout its history, the club has nothing if not resourceful.
The next generation will take over. Players like 17-year-old Geovany Quenda, the latest to emerge from their famed academy, already have the world at their feet. In theory, Sporting are in safe hands as they wrestle with the transition that so many club’s before them have struggled with.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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