Jurgen Klopp has announced that he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, after winning the Champions League, Premier League and both domestic cups in his time at Anfield.
Klopp arrived when Liverpool were struggling to find a positive direction and he ultimately built one of the best sides that the Premier League has seen, and he is one of the few managers to face down Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and come off victorious.
He may be leaving at the end of the season, but his team is far from in decline. A rejuvenated midfield has them as credible title challengers once more. The chance to take over will attract some of the biggest names in football. We look at five potential replacements for the brilliant German this summer.
Xabi Alonso
Alonso cut his teeth at Real Madrid’s youth team before managing Real Sociedad B, before moving to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. They currently head up the table as the Basque legend has built an outstanding and technically adept side in Germany to challenge Bayern Munich’s supremacy. He has done that in one of the strongest leagues in years, with RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund putting up stiff opposition too.
Alonso was an integral part of Liverpool’s midfield in his time there, and he impressed both at Real Madrid and then Bayern Munich. With Thomas Tuchel safe at Bayern for now, and Carlo Ancelotti staying on at the Bernabeu, a chance to move to his former club Liverpool looks like the logical choice.
Steven Gerrard
A title-winning hero at Ibrox, nobody has come close to matching his achievements at Rangers since his departure. However, a middling spell at Aston Villa showed that there are good reasons to doubt whether he can cut it in the Premier League. The reasons for John Henry moving for Gerrard would be more emotional than pragmatic, given the adoration of the club’s supporters and his inspirational approach to the game. Perhaps he would be more likely to arrive as an assistant for any of the other candidates.
Thiago Motta
The former Barcelona man has been linked with the Catalan club as their current manager Xavi Hernandez struggles to match his achievements from last year.
In Serie A he has built a successful team based on a sophisticated 4-2-3-1 system and would doubtless look to refine Klopp’s approach. But what would count against the former midfielder is that while he has impressed in Serie A, he has yet to properly challenge at the top of the table or in European competition.
Arne Slot
The Feyenoord boss was linked with Tottenham and other Premier League vacancies in recent years, and his 4-2-3-1 system demands plenty of pressing and commitment to winning the ball back as he synthesises the approaches perfected by Guardiola and Klopp. A Europa Conference League final appearance, and a Dutch league title, plus two coach of the year awards demonstrate what he can do on a budget, but he would remain a relatively untested choice.
Will Still
With Reims sitting sixth in Ligue 1, the Belgian manager has impressed in France with another approach to 4-2-3-1, and with his Anglophonic skills he is expected to be given a chance in England sooner rather than later, particularly if he continues to do well with his current side. Like Slot and Motto, giving him an opportunity now would be a little outlandish, but he remains one of the most promising young managers around.
Live on DAZN: The 2024 NFL Playoffs, Jan. 13 - Jan. 28. Click here for details.