Liverpool’s search for their new manager looks set to end with the appointment of Arne Slot.
The Reds have taken their time over making one of the biggest decisions in the club’s recent history. But having ticked so many boxes, Slot will be the chosen one.
That will come as a shock to many and there have already been question marks aired from the likes of Jamie Carragher. The Feyenoord manager certainly has some big boots to fill.
With quite a small pool of suitable candidates to choose from though, whoever came in was always going to be a little underwhelming.
Despite that though, there had been a handful of front-runners who were always said to be leading the process. Slot wasn’t really one of them. Ruben Amorim was, and now the 39-year-old has given his reaction to missing out.
Ruben Amorim reacts to Arne Slot to Liverpool
With Xabi Alonso out of the way, Amorim had emerged as the likely candidate to take the open job at Anfield.
However, after news broke early in the week that the Sporting boss was in talks with West Ham, doubt was cast over his candidacy. As it turns out, those question marks were legitimate.
It has since been claimed that Amorim was simply asking for too much money from Liverpool. But whether he was ever truly really in the running or not, maybe we’ll never know.
According to The Independent’s ‘Reading The Game’ Friday newsletter, Amorim himself firmly believed that he was in the running to succeed Klopp.
Not only that, but it’s claimed those ‘close to’ the former Benfica midfielder thought he was the ‘leading candidate.’ As a result, from Amorim’s point of view, the decision to go with Slot was reportedly ‘unexpected.’
If that wasn’t bad enough for him, then it’s also claimed that he had the exact same feelings over the Barcelona position. Amorim thought he was the top contender, only to see Xavi unexpectedly reverse his decision to leave.
What next for Ruben Amorim
This unfortunately does not paint Amorim in wholly the best of lights. From the wage demands to the complacency over being the top candidate. Maybe Liverpool dodged a bullet here.
Nevertheless, it feels inevitable that Amorim will be at one of Europe’s top clubs before too long. As those who have worked with him attest, he’s a ‘tremendous’ manager [The Athletic]. He’ll probably end up in the Premier League.
When Amorim does eventually make it to England’s top division, it sounds like he might well have a point to prove against Liverpool.
Maybe they just made themselves an enemy for life.
In the meantime though, the Reds will focus on getting things signed and sealed with Slot.