Nemanja Matic says he would ‘like to see’ Ruben Amorim in the Premier League and is confident the Sporting head coach would be a ‘great replacement’ for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Amorim, 39, has been identified as Liverpool’s first-choice candidate to take over the reins on Merseyside, with Klopp set to step down as manager after nine trophy-laden years in the summer.
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso had initially been the frontrunner, but the Spaniard has since revealed that he will be staying on with newly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen beyond the end of the season.
Amorim, now the bookmakers’ favourite for the Anfield job, is regarded as one of the finest young managers in European football after steering Sporting to a Primeira Liga title and two Portuguese League Cups across his four years in Lisbon.
This year, Sporting look on course for their 20th league crown, with Amorim’s men sitting seven points clear of reigning champions Benfica in the Portuguese top flight.
Recent reports claimed Amorim had reached a verbal agreement with Liverpool, but the Portuguese vehemently denied these rumours – insisting he had not even spoken with the Reds over the prospect of succeeding Klopp.
However, the speculation is likely to rumble on until Liverpool’s next manager is officially confirmed and Lyon midfielder Matic – formerly of Manchester United and Chelsea – believes Amorim could be a perfect fit for the Merseyside giants.
‘I see Ruben Amorim at a great club,’ Matic – who played alongside Amorim at Benfica – told Portuguese publication O Jogo.
‘I don’t know if it will be Liverpool, but if it happens I’m sure he’ll be a great replacement for Klopp.
‘Ruben understands football and has the personality and character to be a great coach. He already is at the moment.
‘I’d like to see him in the Premier League, let’s see what happens from now on.’
Ex-Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards has been impressed by Amorim’s start to life in management, though feels there remains a ‘question mark’ over his lack of experience at an elite level.
‘I think the way he plays, tactically, he would be good,’ Richards told The Rest Is Football podcast.
‘But I did see a quote from him, or I think they were quotes, which basically said that the rumours about him going to Liverpool were not true and he wants everyone to stop talking about it which I did see just yesterday.
‘But in terms of, “Could he be good for Liverpool?”… definitely. He’s really intelligent, he plays attacking football.
‘He’s evolved as a manager as well because it was at Braga that he did okay there.
‘Can he do it in the Premier League so soon? That’s the one question mark you would have.
‘I’ve heard Liverpool fans saying they would like him, they like his style of football.
‘But you just never know.’
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