Man City are reportedly eyeing Sporting CP’s manager, Ruben Amorim, as a potential replacement for Pep Guardiola, should the Spanish coach decide to leave the club.
Guardiola’s contract with City is set to expire at the end of the season, and he has yet to commit to staying on, despite his remarkable record of six Premier League titles and one Champions League victory with the team.
The Football Association (FA) has also identified Guardiola as their top candidate to replace Gareth Southgate as the England manager, even though they are currently in discussions with Thomas Tuchel for the role. This situation could influence Guardiola’s decision, prompting City to look for a contingency plan.
According to The Guardian, City seriously considers Amorim a possible successor. Amorim has won two Portuguese league titles with Sporting CP and is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches.
City’s recent agreement to bring in Hugo Viana, Sporting CP’s sporting director, to replace their current director of football, Txiki Begiristain, could also play a role in their pursuit of Amorim. Viana was instrumental in bringing Amorim to Sporting from Braga, a move that sparked a period of success for the club.
Amorim had previously been linked with Liverpool as a potential successor to Jurgen Klopp, though that possibility ended when Liverpool chose Arne Slot instead. He was also in talks to take over at West Ham last April, but he turned down the offer, later apologizing to Sporting fans for the distraction during their title race, which Sporting ultimately won.
Amorim’s achievements at Sporting include two league titles, two domestic cups, a super cup, and guiding the team to the last 16 of the Champions League. His success has broken the stronghold of Porto and Benfica in Portuguese football.
While Sporting is set to face Manchester City in the Champions League next month, it remains uncertain whether Guardiola will stay at City. The potential departure of Txiki Begiristain, a close ally of Guardiola from their time at Barcelona, could impact the manager’s decision about his future with the club.
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