A former Liverpool midfielder, Alonso is the front-runner thanks to the remarkable job he is doing at German club Leverkusen.
Jurgen Klopp’s shock decision to step down at the end of the
season leaves Liverpool looking for a new manager for the first time in nearly
a decade.
AFP Sports looks at five of the contenders to replace the
German next season:
A former Liverpool midfielder, Alonso is the front-runner
thanks to the remarkable job he is doing at German club Leverkusen.
Not since Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund won back-to-back titles
in 2011 and 2012 have the might of Bayern Munich been dethroned as German
champions.
But that run is in danger with Leverkusen unbeaten in 27
games in all competitions this season and four points clear at the top of the
Bundesliga.
The Spaniard is putting into practice an extraordinary
football education having played under Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo
Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez and Vicente del Bosque as a player.
Although Alonso is also admired by former clubs Bayern and
Real Madrid, Klopp’s exit could allow Liverpool to swoop for the hottest
coaching prospect in European football.
The Italian has earned rave reviews for both his results and
style of play since taking over at Brighton in September 2021.
De Zerbi led the Seagulls into Europe for the first time in
the club’s history last season and has reached the last 16 of the Europa
League.
However, he was reminded of Brighton’s place in the Premier
League food chain as Liverpool snapped up Alexis Mac Allister in the summer
transfer window and tried to also land Moises Caicedo before he joined Chelsea
for a British transfer record fee in August.
De Zerbi has rebuilt impressively with Brighton seventh in
the Premier League table, but the chance to compete for trophies at Anfield
would prove hard to resist.
Once the rising star of German coaching, Naglesmann’s
meteoric rise after success at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig was knocked off course
when he was sacked by Bayern after less than two years in charge in Bavaria
last year.
The 36-year-old has since taken up the challenge of reviving
Germany’s fortunes in time for Euro 2024 on home soil.
Friendly results so far have not been promising with just
one win in four games, including defeats to Turkey and Austria.
No matter how the Euro goes for Nagelsmann and his nation,
he may seek the day-to-day thrill that comes from club coaching next season.
Postecoglou’s mix of charisma and coaching ability has
transformed the mood at Tottenham in a similar fashion to how Klopp’s arrival
lifted the atmosphere around Liverpool nine years ago.
The Australian is barely six months into a four-year
contract and Spurs would make it extremely expensive should Liverpool set their
sights on Postecoglou.
But the 58-year-old has shown his ruthlessness in the past
to jump ship when he has seen a better opportunity arise.
Postecoglou left Yokohama Marinos mid-season to join Celtic
in 2021 and departed the Scottish champions last year after winning five
trophies in two seasons.
One of Liverpool’s greatest ever players, Gerrard would have
been one of the favourites for the job just a couple of years ago.
However, the former England captain’s coaching career has
gone backwards since leading Scottish giants Rangers to their only top-flight
league title in the past 13 years in 2021.
Gerrard was sacked by Aston Villa after less than a year in
charge and has since seen his successor Unai Emery take Villa from relegation
candidates to challenging for the Premier League title.
Last year he joined the influx of star names to the Saudi
Pro League to take charge of Al-Ettifaq and only last week he extended his
contract there to 2027 despite modest results.
AFP
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