Ruben Amorim has been tipped to replace Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United but the Sporting Lisbon coach already appears to have ruled out a move to the Premier League, speaking to Record.
At just 36, Amorim is 30 years Bielsa’s junior.
But, with four trophies under his belt already, Amorim has lifted almost as many pieces of silverware as Bielsa has in three decades of management.
Last season, the former Portugal international guided Sporting Lisbon to their first Primeira Liga title since the days of a fresh-faced Cristiano Ronaldo.
What’s more, they lost just one game throughout the entire campaign, finishing five points clear of Porto and nine ahead of Lisbon neighbours Benfica.
According to UOL, one of the most exciting young tacticians in European football is on the radar of a Leeds United side who, during Bielsa’s three-and-a-half years on the Elland Road sidelines, have gone from the middle of the Championship to ninth in the Premier League.
Whoever succeeds Bielsa, then, will have big shoes to fill.
Although, with three years left on his contract, it seems unlikely that Amorim will be taking the place of Leeds’ most influential head coach since the legendary Don Revie.
Who will replace Marcelo Bielsa as Leeds United’s manager?
“I’m Sporting’s coach. I have a contract and mainly – because contracts are sometimes worth little – I am very happy at Sporting,” explained Amorim, who has also been tipped to take over from Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United next summer.
“This is where I will continue. I came to Sporting, I made the right choice.”
With Bielsa’s one-year deal expiring next summer, Amorim is not the only manager who has been linked with a move to West Yorkshire.
Abel Ferreira of Brazilian giants Palmeiras has also been mentioned, as has former Granada coach Diego Martinez.
What’s more, Martinez is understood to have turned down a number of La Liga bosses as he awaits an offer from the Premier League. The Spaniard also worked with Victor Orta during his formative years at Sevilla.
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