If you suggested to a fan of Portuguese football one year ago that Ruben Amorim would be part of Portugal’s squad for the 2010 South Africa World Cup, you would have been summarily dismissed as either uninformed or mad, even by most Benfica supporters.
Fast forward twelve months, and even before Amorim was drafted into Carlos Queiroz’s squad at the last minute as a replacement for the injured Nani, calls for his inclusion had been both loud and widespread. His coach at Benfica, Jorge Jesus, even went so far as to say: “If Coentrao, Martins and Amorim don’t get picked for the Portugal squad, somebody’s not paying attention,” days before the 23-man party was announced.
The fact Amorim’s stock had risen so dramatically is testament to what a player who is not extravagantly talented can achieve with bucket loads of determination and the right attitude. As a swashbuckling Benfica team swept to the Portuguese championship is magnificent free-scoring style, Amorim was happy to quietly and efficiently play his part.
Tactically perfect
While the likes of Di Maria, Oscar Cardozo and David Luiz lapped up the plaudits, the role played by the versatile Amorim was no less important. A solid utility player, Amorim is tactically perfect. A neat passer and feisty tackler, perhaps his biggest asset is his uncanny ability to ensure his team keeps possession of the ball. As such, Jesus had no hesitation in using Amorim anywhere across the midfield or at right-back, and he invariably did a sound job.
Amorim’s emergence as a key member of Benfica’s strongest squad for well over a decade is all the more surprising given his modest progression up until the start of his breakthrough season. A product of the youth system of another Lisbon club, Belenenses, Amorim soon made himself a regular in the side and his consistent displays earned him a move to Portugal’s biggest club the 2008 close season.
The midfielder’s ever dependable individual performances were one bright spot in a disappointing season for Benfica under Quique Flores in 2008/09. But Amorim really stood out as a top quality performer when Jorge Jesus, who had successfully worked with the player in an earlier managerial stint at Belenenses, took the hot seat at the Estadio da Luz and enjoyed immediate and spectacular success. Amorim played his part and at 25 years of age looks set fair to enjoy the best years of his career as an invaluable player for both club and country.
Full name: Ruben Filipe Marques Amorim
