CHELSEA have interviewed Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim in their search for a new manager.
The Blues are conducting an “exhaustive” process to find Graham Potter’s long-term successor at Stamford Bridge.
Co-owner Todd Boehly has also spoken to former Spain boss Luis Enrique while Julien Nagelsmann and Marco Silva are also being considered.
Frank Lampard, the interim manager until the end of the season, is also trying to impress and has not ruled out the chance of getting the job on a full-time basis for a second time.
And talks have now been held with Amorim, 38, over taking the post.
The Portuguese led Sporting to their first title in 19 years when they finished top in 2021 and has won three Portuguese League Cups, two with Sporting and one with former club Braga.
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Amorim’s side may be sitting fourth in the Portuguese top flight, 14 points off leaders Benfica, but Sporting did recently knock Premier League leaders Arsenal out of the Europa League.
Sporting held the Gunners to a 2-2 draw in Lisbon before coming from behind to draw 1-1 at The Emirates, where they won on penalties.
Meanwhile, Lampard has revealed that Kalidou Koulibaly is out of their crucial Champions League quarter-final second leg with Real Madrid.
The defender limped off early in the second half in Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at the Bernabeu, having suffered a hamstring injury which will now keep him out for a few weeks.
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Lowdown on fast-rising Amorim
LISBON-BORN Ruben Amorim is already in his fourth boss job – aged just 38
The ex-Portugal midfielder won all his 14 caps whilst with Benfica and quit playing in 2016.
Here’s more on his background:
- Played for Belenenses, 2003-08.
- Then spent nine years with Benfica, winning the top-flight title three times.
- Was on loan at Braga in 2012-13 and Qatari club Al-Wakrah in 2015-16.
- After retiring as a player he’s managed four home-country teams.
- First, he impressed at third-tier side Casa Bria in 2018-19.
- Bossed Braga B and then Braga’s first team, guiding them to Portuguese League Cup glory in 2019-20.
- Won the top-flight crown in his first season at Sporting, 2020-21.
- Has won the League Cup in both his campaigns with Sporting, Sporting Lisbon.
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Lampard said: “He is a very good, very experienced player.
“Albeit people talk about our [big] squad, but we haven’t got lots of cover at certain times and the Champions League squad is different to the Premier League squad.
“It is a disappointment for him and us but an opportunity and we carry on without him and hopefully he gets fit as quick as he can.”
Chelsea’s hunt for a new permanent manager follows Potter’s sacking at the start of April.
The ex-Brighton chief only lasted seven months of his five-year contract.
He won just seven of his 22 Prem games in charge of the Blues.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
