Amorim had started as an education intern at Casa Pia before taking on the full role and guiding them to promotion on a shoestring budget.
“As a coach, the most important thing for Rubén is to have a close relationship with his players,” adds Simao, who played for his friend at Casa Pía after recovering from a visiting match in 2018 that left him sidelined.
“The accident occurred almost at the same time that he was appointed coach at Casa Pia.
“A day later I texted him and said, ‘Look, what do you think about having me on your team?’ He said: “Please, we cannot combine our relationship. You have been on leave for four months, you are 33 years old and you are an expensive participant for Casa Pia.”
“Then after a week he texted me to say, ‘Look, I want you on my team. Let’s make it happen.'”
However, it was not all smooth sailing, and Simao remembers Amorim’s reaction when things did not progress as expected.
“I’ve seen him get angry many times because he wants to play well and win.”
One of those years came after a loss to Amora, currently controlled by Russiano, Amorim’s friend since adolescence.
“It was very good to see a good friend again,” says Russiano. “We talk and remember things from when we were young. My team won 1-0!
“At Casa Pia they are not able to make a unique device and they changed to 3-4-3. They made a streak that put them in first place.”
And with a nod to Mourinho, Russiano adds: “It’s the second ‘Particular’.”
Victor Seabra Franco, president of Casa Pia, says Amorim was paid an “insignificant” amount of money due to a tight budget and limited resources.
“I won’t mention the figures, because they are so small that it is not good to mention them,” he adds.
“For the suits, which were at 3:00 p.m. in Alentejo or Algarve, we turned on early in the morning. We trained at night. Rubén changed things and we started training in the morning.
“Sometimes there was no water, for example, but despite all the difficulties there was a group and Rubén, and those players liked Rubén.
“They did everything so that Casa Pía and Rubén would win.”
There were tears among the players when Amorim announced he was leaving Casa Pia after just one season.
“That is the saddest memory of Rubén’s presence: the life that Casa Pia left,” says Seabra Franco.
