By Betsefy
Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim has emphatically shot down links with a future crack at the Chelsea job.
The 37-year-old was understood to have been one of a number of candidates to take over at Stamford Bridge following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday morning.
Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane were also mooted as potential successors to the German, but the Blues moved quickly to appoint Graham Potter from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 47-year-old has penned a five-year deal with the West London club, who are alleged to have already identified Amorim as his future successor.
The current Sporting manager is 10 years Potter’s junior at 37, but he does not expect to be leaving his post in the Portuguese capital anytime soon.
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“The project I am in is the project I want. I have another year and a half of contract; Chelsea have presented a coach for the next five years. I am happy here and I am not thinking about another project,” Amorim told O Jogo via the Evening Standard.
The former Benfica man has held his post at Sporting for the past two-and-a-half years, and he is under contract with the Portuguese giants until the end of the 2023-24 season.
Amorim has 80 wins, 16 draws and 16 defeats on his record from 112 games in charge of Sporting, who opened their Champions League campaign with a 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.
Sporting have won one Primeira Liga title, two Taca da Ligas and one Supertaca Candido de Oliveira title under the tutelage of Amorim, who also led Braga to Taca da Liga glory in 2020.
The ex-Portugal international was also linked with the job at Paris Saint-Germain before the arrival of Christophe Galtier, but Chelsea could still try to tempt him into a move to England in the future.
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Former Ostersunds and Swansea City boss Potter spoke of his pride at being appointed Chelsea boss on Thursday, telling the club’s official website: “I am incredibly proud and excited to represent Chelsea FC, this fantastic football club.
“I am very excited to partner with Chelsea’s new ownership group and look forward to meeting and working with the exciting group of players and to develop a team and culture that our amazing fans can be proud of.
“I would also like to place my sincere thanks to Brighton & Hove Albion for allowing me this opportunity and in particular Tony Bloom and all the players, staff and supporters for their continued support during my time at the club.”
Manchester United were reportedly considering Potter as an ideal successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but the Englishman’s lack of Champions League experience saw the Red Devils move for Erik ten Hag instead.
Chelsea are due to welcome Red Bull Salzburg to Stamford Bridge next Wednesday in Potter’s first game in charge, with Saturday’s Premier League clash with Fulham being postponed following Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
