Shock Ten Hag replacement? Fernandes hails 'quality' manager

Tom Weber

• Updated: 11 Oct 2024 13:30 BST
• 4 min read

Bruno Fernandes has expressed his admiration for Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim.

The Portuguese manager has been one of Europe's most in-demand coaching commodities for some time. The 39-year-old was being considered by Chelsea in 2023 and Liverpool and West Ham earlier this year.

However, after an ill-advised mid-season trip to London for talks with the Hammers - and to put pressure on Liverpool - Amorim returned to Portugal, issued a grovelling apology and decided to stay put.

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Still, he remains one of the continent's most highly-rated young coaches, having won two Portuguese league titles, three league cups and a Super Cup in his four full seasons at the helm in Lisbon.

After winning the league last term, Sporting once again top the standings so far in this nascent campaign and this has once again put Amorim in the spotlight.

Ten Hag replacement?

Links to Premier League sides continue to abound. With Pep Guardiola's Man City contract expiring next summer and the club poised to appoint Sporting's Hugo Viana as new director of football, Amorim appears a natural fit for the Premier League champions.

Additionally, of course, Erik ten Hag finds himself under intense pressure at Man Utd and, though he has survived for now, it looks increasingly unlikely that he will be in charge of the side beyond this season.

It is therefore intriguing that Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes has now waxed lyrical about Amorim while on international duty. “Since Mister Amorim arrived at Sporting, they have been one of the teams to play the best football," he said at a press conference.

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"They have been consistent, the signings have been right and they are in a very good moment. It’s a very well-prepared team. In relation to Amorim, he shows that he is prepared at this moment.

"Coaching Sporting and winning championships is not easy. Sporting went 20 years without winning championships and Amorim arrived and has already won two, this shows that the work has been done well.

"If he could manage to do the same in England, Spain or anywhere else, we will never know until he gets there, but I’m sure the qualities are there for everyone to see.”