Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Ruben Amorim comes as no surprise to Sporting Lisbon defender Jerry St Juste, though the Premier League outfit look likely to miss out on one of their leading managerial candidates.
Amorim reportedly rebuffed the advances of both Aston Villa and Wolves when Steven Gerrard and Bruno Lage paid with their jobs the other side of Christmas.
With all due respect to the Midland duo, the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea – even if both clubs are underperforming considerably this term – looked, on paper at least, slightly more difficult to ignore.
But even a pair of vacancies at two of Europe’s most high-profile clubs is not enough to turn Amorim’s head; the 38-year-old Portuguese turning down the chance to follow in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho and Andre Villas-Boas at Stamford Bridge, per The Athletic.
“I want to stay here. I’m happy here,” Amorim tells DN. “I’ve seen many coaches move to other championships and not be happy. I value what I have, and I enjoy being at Sporting.
“If I have to leave here, it’s because I was pushed (out) for another reason. But I’m not going to leave the door ajar, because I think Sporting deserves respect.
“If I want to go, I’ll tell the president and (director of football) Hugo Viana.”
Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea like Ruben Amorim
St Juste, the £40 million rated centre-half who joined from Bundesliga outfit Mainz last summer, has been a key part of the Sporting team who knocked Arsenal out of the Europa League recently.
And, having spent almost 12 months working alongside one of world football’s most exciting young coaches, St Juste is ‘not surprised’ to see the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea, Aston Villa and co express an interest.
“I am not surprised,” the 26-year-old tells Voetbal Zone. “I don’t know a coach who is as crazy about football as he is.
“He is clear in his communication. I personally like that very much. He sees us as his boys and is constantly working on our development. I expect we will hear a lot more from him in the coming years.”
Amorim carried Braga to Taca da Liga glory in 2019 before taking over at Sporting. Two years ago, he guided the Lisbon giants to their first Primeira Liga title in two decades.
Amorim, interestingly, worked with Tottenham’s big-money January signing Pedro Porro in Portugal. He also helped ex-Spurs starlet Marcus Edwards realise his potential in Iberia.
“Obviously, I want to be in big leagues,” Amorim adds.
“But that’s not what attracts me; it’s having a good project, good players, being able to convey my identity to my players.”
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