10 months ago
138 There will be a change in the Liverpool dugout next season after manager Jurgen Klopp announced he would be leaving Anfield in the summer.
The 56-year-old stunned the football world on Friday when he announced he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.
“I will leave the club at the end of the season,” Klopp said in a video shared by the Liverpool media team. “I understand that it’s a shock.”
The German coach, whose Reds contract was due to run until the summer of 2026, attributed his decision to “running out of energy”.
No sooner had Klopp made the announcement, football fans, journalists and outlets the world over have been speculating who could take over at Anfield.
Liverpool linked with Xabi Alonso and Roberto De Zerbi
Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso has emerged as the main candidate due to the amount of boxes he ticks for the Reds. He’s an Anfield cult hero and has been brilliant at Leverkusen so far.
Dean Jones, writing on GiveMeSport, says Roberto De Zerbi of Brighton & Hove Albion is an “outstanding candidate” from within the Premier League.
Jones ran the rule over those who have been earmarked as potential candidates for the Liverpool job.
“When it comes to front runners to replace him, the names of Nagelsmann, Alonso and De Zerbi stand out to me,” wrote Jones.
“Interestingly, Nagelsmann is only contracted to Germany until the end of Euro 2024, as it would fit perfectly with the timing Liverpool need.
“Alonso would bring a more emotional pull but also has the clout of a brilliant season at Leverkusen behind him.
“And De Zerbi feels like an outstanding candidate from within the Premier League, who has the potential of stepping up to a bigger club soon and impacting the game pretty similar to the one Klopp has made.”
Roberto De Zerbi a great shout for Liverpool
While Alonso would no doubt be the ideal candidate for Liverpool due to his quality and history with the club, De Zerbi would be a superb alternative.
The 44-year-old has been a revelation at Brighton thanks to his impressive brand of attacking football, not to mention world-class recruitment that has made them the envy of many a bigger club.
He helped the Seagulls qualify for the Europa League last season and they’re now genuine contenders for a Champions League spot.
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