West Ham United were thrashed against Crystal Palace in the Premier League last weekend and David Moyes has been left fighting to save the last vestiges of confidence in his ability to lead the club forward over the coming years.
Out of contract this summer, the Scotsman, who has lifted United to their best period in generations and won the Europa Conference League last season, accepted that his future might now be out of his hands. “If it is, then it is, fine – no problem."
Ruben Amorim, revolutionary as Sporting Lisbon helmsman, has been regarded as the frontrunner to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool after Xabi Alonso opted to continue his incredible journey with Bayer Leverkusen, but United have swept ahead in the race for the Portuguese – it would, truly, be a staggering statement of intent from the London Stadium overlords.
Why West Ham are pushing for Ruben Amorim
Amorim, only 39, has worked wonders in his homeland with Sporting, toppling the Benfica/Porto monopoly to clinch the Liga Portugal in 2020/21, losing most of his top talents, rebuild, and surge toward the title again in the current campaign – seven points clear at the top with four fixtures left to play.
With a handful of victories in domestic cup competitions too, Amorim would bring title-winning gusto to an outfit with proven credentials down that lane, though it is the tactical approach that has seemingly won the Hammers board over.
With an emphasis on control and technical fizz that creates a habitual sense of unity and progression, Amorim would offer a style almost diametrically opposed to that of Moyes, whose success is steeped in hard-working resilience and steel in defence.
That's not to say Amorim neglects defensive strength; Sporting have conceded 27 goals from 30 league matches this season, three more than Benfica and Porto.
But the slick attacking nature of his offensive approach is the highlight of his tactical style, a lasting imprint left by the intense pressure and overlapping wide play that engulfs and subdues opponents.
Amorim, who speaks fluent English and occasionally shows streaks of fire that bespeak a ruthlessly competitive winning mentality, would certainly offer a different slant than Moyes but he's in the early phase of a prosperous career and he would be the perfect boss to bring Jarrod Bowen's skill to the next level.
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ByAngus Sinclair Apr 22, 2024