The name that Manchester City currently deem to be their ‘favourite candidate’ to replace Txiki Begiristain as director of football has longer-term ambitions.
The Premier League champions are currently engaged in the process of replacing an integral member of the club’s success story over the best part of the last 15 years, with Txiki Begiristain stepping down from his role as sporting director at the end of the season.
The now-60-year-old had originally intended to move away from day-to-day operations upon turning 55, but extended his responsibilities with the club by a further five years such was his enjoyment at working on the City project and alongside Pep Guardiola.
The replacement for the former Barcelona chief will likely be a key indicator as to the next phase of Manchester City’s development as a global footballing powerhouse, and may also provide some idea as to the next coaching philosophy that may be targeted.
Alongside growing reports that City have identified Sporting’s Hugo Viana as their next director, should the two parties reach an agreement on a move, one line of information has connected the dots and pointed towards a possible Pep Guardiola successor in the process.
According to the information of Portuguese newspaper Record, should Hugo Viana agree to becoming Manchester City’s next director of football, it would ‘greatly strengthen the possibility’ of Sporting CP’s current head coach, Rúben Amorim succeeding Pep Guardiola.
It is explained that Amorim, who was considered by ‘several’ Premier League clubs at the end of last season, would end up being a natural choice to replace Guardiola as Manchester City’s next manager, in a friendship that dates back both men being players at Braga.
Towards the end of the 2023/24 season, Rúben Amorim notably made a trip to London to negotiate an agreement to become the next manager of West Ham United following the impending exit of former boss David Moyes.
Having refused an offer from the London Stadium, and prior to a crunch meeting with FC Porto in the Primeira Liga, Amorim apologised for his trip to the English capital, labelling the move as a ‘mistake’ and admitting that the timing of talks were completely off.
Pep Guardiola has previously spoken highly of Amorim, discussing Sporting CP during a press conference in February 2023, “They won the Portuguese league! Their manager is one of the best at the moment. His team is really good.”
