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Ruben Amorim 'favourite to replace Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain'

Ruben Amorim 'favourite to replace Pochettino at PSG'
© Reuters
Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim reportedly emerges as the favourite to succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain.

Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly emerged as the favourite to replace Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

Despite comfortably leading PSG to the Ligue 1 title with four games to spare in 2021-22, Pochettino is still widely expected to depart the club before next season.

The Argentine saw his side's Coupe de France defence ended by Nice in the last-16, while they collapsed during the same stage against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Pochettino's contract at the Parc des Princes now has less than 18 months left to run, and the PSG hierarchy are rumoured to be scoping out a shortlist of candidates.

Zinedine Zidane was the original favourite to take the reins, but the ex-Real Madrid coach supposedly has no interest in returning to the French capital.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino pictured on April 23, 2022© Reuters

According to Le Parisien - via Get French Football News - Sporting head coach Amorim is now the priority target for PSG and incoming sporting director Luis Campos.

As well as Pochettino, Leonardo is also expected to move on in the summer, and Les Parisiens are understood to be closing in on the appointment of Campos, who left Lille in 2020.

After retiring as a player in 2017, 37-year-old Amorim enjoyed short stints in the Casa Pia and Braga hotseats before taking charge of Sporting in March 2020.

Amorim had already won the Taca da Liga with Braga, and he achieved the league and cup double with Sporting Lisbon during a phenomenal 2020-21 campaign.

The Green and Whites won 26 and lost just one of their 34 league games under Amorim's tutelage last year to finish five points clear of Porto, but they could not defend their title this time around.

Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim and Ricardo Esgaio on February 15, 2022© Reuters

However, the former Portugal international still won the Taca da Liga and Portuguese Super Cup in 2021-22, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Taca de Portugal and qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages.

In total, Amorim has won 77, drawn 15 and lost 14 of his 106 games in charge of Sporting, and his contract with the Portuguese giants does not expire until 2024.

Following the extension of Kylian Mbappe's contract at PSG, Pochettino has confirmed that he plans to hold talks with Nasser Al-Khelaifi over his future at the club.

"The club will do what they see fit, like last summer. For the moment I am still the coach, and I will also take part in that decision," Pochettino told the press, as quoted by Marca.

"Without a doubt, I should see the president in Qatar. I'm sure we will see each other. But to be clear, the planning of our meetings is always done by our superiors."

Pochettino's 84 games in charge of PSG have brought him 56 wins, 13 draws and 15 losses, and there has been speculation over a possible return to Tottenham Hotspur while Antonio Conte's future remains up in the air.

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Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane pictured on February 14, 2021
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG26178162233959
2Brest26138536201647
3MonacoMonaco26137647361146
4Lille261110537231443
5Nice2612772720743
6Lens2612683527842
7Marseille26109740281239
8Rennes2610974031939
9Reims26115103435-138
10Lyon26104123040-1034
11Toulouse2678112936-729
12StrasbourgStrasbourg2678112839-1129
13Le HavreLe Havre2669112633-727
14Montpellier HSCMontpellier2669113140-926
15Lorient2668123549-1426
16NantesNantes2674152441-1725
17Metz2665152339-1623
18Clermont2648141943-2420

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