Manchester City are seriously contemplating the appointment of Sporting's head coach, Rúben Amorim, as their next manager if Pep Guardiola decides to leave when his contract ends at the end of the season. Guardiola recently mentioned that "anything can happen" regarding his future. The necessity for City to have a succession plan is evident, and the connection with Amorim, considered one of Europe's top young managers, is logical. The 39-year-old is a close associate of Hugo Viana, who will succeed Txiki Begiristain as City's director of football next summer.
The aim for a seamless transition means Viana, who has been with Sporting since 2018, will work alongside Begiristain before the 60-year-old steps down at the end of the season. There is a possibility of an immediate recruitment challenge as Guardiola has yet to decide whether to extend his contract. He hasn't ruled out staying at City, who are eager to retain the services of the world's best manager.
There have been signs that Amorim will be a top candidate if a vacancy arises at City. The Portuguese coach has been on the radar of elite clubs for some time and was in contention to replace Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool last summer. Amorim, who missed out on the Liverpool job to Arne Slot, has also held discussions with Chelsea in recent years. Most recently, he was considered by West Ham when they were looking to replace David Moyes. Amorim traveled to London for talks but returned to Portugal without reaching an agreement.
Amorim, who secured his second Portuguese title with Sporting last season, later apologized for disrespecting his employers by speaking to West Ham. There was some doubt at the time that Amorim would seriously consider joining West Ham, who eventually appointed Julen Lopetegui. The former Braga manager has been satisfied staying at Sporting and waiting for a top position. He has demonstrated his capabilities to Premier League clubs in European competitions, notably by defeating Tottenham in the Champions League in 2022 and eliminating Arsenal from the Europa League a year later.
