.
Amorim’s managerial ascent has been rapid. The former Benfica midfielder was coaching in Portugal’s third tier as recently as 2019, before moving to top-flight Braga at the end of that same year. Sporting triggered Amorim’s expensive release clause in March 2020 and by the end of the 2020/21 campaign he had steered the club to their first league title in 19 years.
Just months after that seismic triumph, Amorim was attracting interest from several members of Europe’s elite – including Manchester United. The Premier League outfit sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November 2021 and went in search of a permanent, proven head coach.
But, Amorim stressed his desire to stay at Sporting. In a bid to deflect the unwanted attention, the prodigious coach put another manager forward.
“If you allow my opinion, I think Manchester United should take Ten Hag this week, it was something that would make me very happy,” Amorim told assembled media, as quoted by A Bola, before Sporting faced Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League tie.
Amorim had been treated to Ten Hag’s tactical prowess earlier that season. The Dutchman’s Ajax side travelled to Lisbon in September 2021 and battered the hosts 5-1. Sebastien Haller scored twice in the opening ten minutes before Sporting’s Paulinho halved the deficit. Steven Berghuis added another in the first half before Haller completed a second-half brace.
After the match, Amorim conceded that his Portuguese champions were “inexperienced” in European competition. Ten Hag had led Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals the season before and beamed: “Sporting were on their heels. That was a joy to …
Read More
