Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer has weighed in on his old club’s search to replace Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds are currently on the hunt to find Klopp’s successor after he announced his intention to leave at the end of the season.
So far, a handful of names have emerged as the most likely candidates. Xabi Alonso appears to be the front-runner, with Roberto De Zerbi also earning plenty of support.
Thomas Frank is another said to have some kind of chance, as well as Sporting’s Ruben Amorim. Finally, Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is also seemingly in the running. And according to McAteer for beIN SPORTS, Postecoglou is the right man for the job.
“I think he’s charismatic, I like his brand of football,” listed the pundit. “He’s got a CV by the way, he’s managed around the world, he knows what he’s doing. He’s dealt with a Harry Kane situation.
“Now you’re asking me if it’s too soon to jump ship, that’s a different argument. But if I could pick anyone, just go there you go pick them up and put them in there, I’d probably go Postecoglou right now.”
McAteer backs Postecoglou
Not to do Big Ange down, but we can’t imagine there’ll be too many out there who feel the same way as McAteer on this.
Postecoglou is all of the things McAteer says, no doubt. In terms of charisma and leadership, he’s more towards Klopp than someone like Alonso, De Zerbi or Amorim for sure.
But he simply hasn’t proven enough at the top level to put himself forward as an outstanding candidate.
Yes, he’s been around for longer than the other candidates. But during that time the Australian has mainly been managing in his homeland, Japan and Scotland.
With all due respect to the teams he’s managed and the trophies he’s won, that shouldn’t count for a great deal when it comes to replacing Klopp.
Of course, Postecoglou has shown that he’s capable of dealing with a big club with the spotlight on it. What he achieved at Celtic is no mean feat.
But it’s also a million miles away from managing Liverpool.
The 58-year-old is doing a decent job at Spurs so far, but he isn’t exactly marking himself out as someone who can go up a level either. Respectfully, we’re going to have disagree with McAteer in pretty strong terms on this one.
