All good things come to an end. The same goes for Anfield, where 2023/24 will be the last season of the Jurgen Klopp era. No one saw this sporting news when Klopp announced to fans that he would be leaving at the end of the season. The main reason was that he needed rest and orchestrated this to keep United alive. It has maintained consistent returns for over 8 years.
As always after a manager’s departure, attention quickly turned to questions about the German manager’s potential replacement, with fans weighing up the latest casino bonuses and spending time assessing the prospects of Liverpool’s next manager. Many names have been mentioned and no doubt there will be many more before the appointment is confirmed, but here we will pick the most likely candidates. His success at Bayer Leverkusen and his skills in midfield at Anfield have made him the first name on the lips of many Liverpool fans. His contract situation and rumors of a move to former clubs such as Liverpool further fuel speculation over his appointment. First row winner.
Roger Schmidt: Roger Schmidt won the Austrian championship with RB Salzburg in 2013/2014. This is a significant achievement but standard fare for the dominant force in the Austrian game. But his performance in leading Benfica to the Premier League title last season cemented his status among the best managers in Europe. Benfica’s team this season is Sporting Lisbon, which is currently managed by a certain manager.Ruben Amorim: The Sporting coach, known for his attacking tactics, looks a strong candidate to take over from Klopp’s ‘heavy metal’ game. Most reports have him on the Reds’ shortlist and it’s no surprise that Amorim’s qualifications rival those of Xabi Alonso.
Especially his understanding of the dynamics of the club. Sporting’s €20 million release clause makes it interesting that he could leave.Ange Postecoglou: Ange Postecoglou attracted a lot of attention during his successful spell at Celtic, including speculation linking him to Liverpool. However, the timing did not suit the vacant position of manager of the Tomatoes. Postecoglou enjoyed a satisfying spell at Tottenham and his innovative style of play, known as ‘Angeball’, earned him plaudits from Tottenham fans. His childhood loyalty to Liverpool may be nostalgic, but he may not want to leave Tottenham’s draft so early.Michel Sanchez: Michel Sanchez’s Girona are currently second in La Liga. This is an incredible achievement for a team with fewer resources compared to Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Sanchez is seen as a clear candidate for the Camp Nou after Xavi announced he will leave Barca at the end of the season, but Merseyside and the Premier League could be just as attractive.Zinedine Zidane: The former Real Madrid manager recently revealed that he is ready to return to coaching after a three-year hiatus. Having won the Champions League three times with the Spanish giants, there will be no shortage of candidates. Zidane is also rumored to be interested in Liverpool, with links to PSG and Manchester United. When Liverpool’s decision-makers look for big names, they don’t come bigger than Zizou. Unai Emery: Unai Emery has impressed for Aston Villa and cemented his excellent managerial record as one of the hardest working managers in sport.
Emery is early in his tenure at Villa and may want to stay if things improve, but Liverpool are a club who will be hard to turn down if he comes in. Julian Nagelsmann: Julian Nagelsmann’s departure from Bayern has sparked interest in his next move despite a solid Champions League record and Bundesliga status. Nagelsmann, who will coach Germany at this year’s European Championships, is out of contract at the end of July so could be on the market again next season in the Premier League. A lot could change depending on how Germany go this summer.Pep Liinders: Described as the author of the ‘Bible of Rivals’, Pep Liinders is seen as the natural successor to Jurgen Klopp due to his long tenure as Liverpool’s head coach. Leenders’ familiarity with the club’s philosophy and structure makes him an attractive candidate, marking a significant return to Liverpool’s managerial traditions.
Roberto De Zerbi: Roberto De Zerbi has been in brilliant form for Brighton and has captured the attention of the fans with his entertaining style of play. Since the departure of Graham Potter, Brighton have shown a marked improvement in the attacking side of the game. His footballing philosophy fits well with Liverpool’s plans and it looks like he will be on a roll at some point.
