In-Depth Analysis: Tactical & Statistical Deep Dive of Rúben Amorim and his Sporting CP Team

Written on 06/04/2024

With Xabi Alonso confirming his stay at Bayer Leverkusen beyond this season, it is obvious that Liverpool must look elsewhere for a managerial appointment this summer. Reports suggesting that the club isn’t surprised by Alonso’s decision tell us they are already working on another target.

Sporting CP boss Rúben Amorim is the current favourite to take over the job at Anfield. The 39-year-old is on course to lead the Portuguese side to their second league title under his managerial stint which has lasted over four years so far. At the end of the 2020/21 season, he ended the club’s 19-year wait for league success.

The former Portugal international started his coaching career in the summer of 2018 taking over the Casa Pia job. A year later, he went back to Braga, managing their B side before being appointed as the first-team manager in December 2019. That stint lasted only four months and Sporting took him in March the following year. 

In 205 games as the manager of the current Primeira Liga leaders, Amorim has won 143 games, conceded 185 goals at less than a goal per game and is averaging 2.24 points per game on average.

Below, we take an in-depth look at his system at Sporting. We also have a peek at the numbers to further understand what type of a manager Liverpool is getting if at all he is coming.

Tactical Analysis of Amorim’s 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 system

This section contains a few screen grabs from Sporting games outlining the system Amorim prefers to operate with.

Off the ball Shape

When the team does not have the ball, they take up a 5-2-3 shape with wing-backs tucking in narrow alongside the three centre-backs. The midfield pivot is protecting the back line while the forward line is splitting the field.

This is more of a mid-block shape with a high defensive line. When the opportunity arises, the wing-backs push up to support the front five in pressing high.

In general, they are a space-defending team rather than a man-to-man.

On the ball

This part of the analysis will consist of a few images depicting how Sporting build their attacks from the back and move through the lines.

When playing out from the goalkeeper, the central centre-back (Ousmane Diomande here) joins one of the midfielders in a pivot.