Former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim could be in line for a surprising Premier League return at Crystal Palace.
The Portuguese tactician has been out of a job since January, when he was sacked by Man Utd following an explosive press conference in which he took aim at the club’s hierarchy and insisted that he should be “manager” instead of merely “head coach.”
Amorim’s time at Old Trafford had been an unmitigated disaster up to that point, but the club were actually willing to keep the faith in him. Just months earlier, INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe insisted that the 41-year-old should be judged after three years.
However, his position became untenable after his public criticism of Jason Wilcox, which followed an outburst in a meeting during which the director had sought to give advice on tactics. Amorim took offence and decided to talk his way out of a job.
Since his exit, it has been thought that the former Sporting CP boss would return to his native Portugal. Benfica, where he spent the majority of his playing days, could be in the market for a new head coach this summer. Jose Mourinho is currently in charge of the Lisbon giants.
Benfica are unbeaten in the league this season, but they are nevertheless miles off leaders FC Porto. Mourinho has a clause in his contract that can be triggered by both parties and allows them to part ways without needing to pay the legendary manager his full compensation.
Amorim back to the Premier League?
However, it seems that Amorim could also have the opportunity to return to the Premier League this summer. According to TEAMtalk, intermediaries have offered the Portuguese to Crystal Palace, who need a replacement for departing coach Oliver Glasner.
Palace are considering the 41-year-old, but there is no guarantee that anything will materialise. It is believed, though, that he could be a decent stylistic fit as he favours a similar approach to Glasner. Of course, that doesn’t mean that he will have the same level of success.
When Man Utd played Palace earlier this season, Amorim insisted that his system was different to Glasner’s. “You don’t say that all 4-3-3 teams play in the same way,” he said. “We play in a different moment, we defend in a different space, we attack in a different way.”
Meanwhile, the Selhurst Park club are also showing a strong interest in Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Coventry City hero Frank Lampard. Iraola, like Glasner, is out of contract this summer.
Lampard, on the other hand, still has a year to run on his deal and just brought the Sky Blues back to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years. Naturally, they do not want to lose the 47-year-old.
However, the report posits that Palace could be an interesting proposition to Lampard. A return to London appeals to the Chelsea legend, and the Eagles previously came close to appointing him.
At this stage, though, nothing is decided, and it would be a major shock for Lampard to jump ship after this hugely successful season with Coventry. Steve Parish has yet to settle on a favoured option to replace Glasner.
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