Appointing Sporting manager Ruben Amorim as Marcelo Bielsa’s successor would ‘show the ambition’ of Leeds United, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Bielsa was relieved of his duties over the weekend following the 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, and the search for his replacement is already underway.

What is the latest news involving Leeds?

Leeds enjoyed a remarkable rise under their former boss. In 2017/18, they finished in 13th position in the Championship table following another hugely underwhelming season.

However, Bielsa guided the Elland Road outfit to third in his maiden campaign before claiming the second-tier title the following term, ending a 16-year exile from the Premier League.

And the Argentine tactician proved his success was no fluke by achieving a ninth-placed finish in the top-flight in 2020/21 as Leeds re-established themselves in the upper echelons of English football.

But injuries to several key players and a drop-off in form have significantly hampered the Whites’ progress this term, dragging them deep into a relegation battle.

Saturday’s defeat at the hands of Spurs was their fourth in a row and left them with an aggregate scoreline of 2-17 from those fixtures, leading to Bielsa’s dismissal.

What has O’Rourke said about Leeds?

According to well-respected journalist Fabrizio Romano, former RB Leipzig head coach Jesse Marsch is the leading candidate to take over the reins in west Yorkshire.

It’s claimed that Leeds have a ‘full agreement’ in place with the American and are now just waiting on a work permit to announce his arrival.

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Nevertheless, Leeds and director of football Victor Orta have been linked with Amorim in the past by Portuguese outlet UOL, and O’Rourke believes luring the 37-year-old to Elland Road would represent a ‘really good appointment’.

He told GiveMeSport: “I think it'd be a really good appointment; it would show the ambition of Leeds if they're able to lure someone like Ruben Amorim, who's attracting admiring glances from a number of top clubs across Europe.

“Leading Sporting to the title last season, also then leading them into the last 16 of the Champions League.”

Would Amorim be a good appointment?

Amorim has cultivated a reputation as one of European football’s most promising tacticians since taking his place in the Sporting hot seat back in March 2020.

The retired centre-back steered the Verde e brancos to their first Primeira Liga title since 2002 last term, suffering just one defeat in their 34-league fixtures, ending Benfica and Porto’s dominance in emphatic fashion.

With a record of 81 victories from his 110 games in the managerial dugout giving him a win percentage of 74%, it’s easy to understand why Amorim is so highly regarded within the game.