Sporting Lisbon head coach Ruben Amorim has emerged as the latest front runner in the race for the vacant Aston Villa job, after Steve Gerrard was sacked on Thursday.
The 37-year-old led Sporting to their first league title in 19 years in 2020/21 and was named the Primeira Liga’s manager of the season. He has also guided the club to back-to-back wins in the Taca da Liga.
Amorim, who was heavily linked with the vacant Wolves job, insisted he was ‘happy’ at the Portuguese club, before the Aston Villa links emerged.
But the news of Villa’s approach for the former Portuguese international has spooked the bookies who instantly made him the new odds-on favourite to replace Steven Gerrard.
The overnight favourite Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly distanced himself from the role and is waiting to return to management at a higher level.
Gerrard’s tenure as Aston Villa manager ended after a 3-0 loss to Fulham on Thursday.
Villa said Gerrard “left the club with immediate effect” following the defeat at Craven Cottage.
The announcement came shortly after the former Liverpool and England midfielder vowed to fight on, despite the club’s fans calling for him to be fired.
“It’s tough,” he told Amazon Prime. “I’m a man, I accept it, I feel their frustrations, I’m frustrated. It was a tough night for me personally.
“We will see what happens. I’m a fighter, I will never, ever quit anything whether it’s football or in life.”
Villa managed just four wins in its last 22 Premier League games under Gerrard dating back to March.
