9 months ago
162 Liverpool will need to bring in a new manager in the summer after Jurgen Klopp announced he’d be leaving Anfield at the end of the season.
The 56-year-old, whose Reds contract was due to run until the summer of 2026, attributed his decision to “running out of energy”.
Liverpool have been heavily linked with Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso since Klopp‘s announcement. However, he’s not the only name in the picture.
ESPN pundit Ian Darke has suggested that FSG’s data-driven process could well produce Diego Simeone as the right man for the job.
The 53-year-old has been in charge of Atletico Madrid since December 2011. And he has turned the Spanish capital club into a national giant.
Los Colchoneros have won two La Liga titles, two Europa League, a Copa del Rey and three super-cups under Simeone, as well as reaching two Champions League finals.
Liverpool could potentially look at Diego Simeone based on data-driven approach
“I wasn’t suggesting for a minute that Diego Simeone should be the next manager of Liverpool, not at all,” Darke said.
“But they keep telling us it’s a data driven process measured against resources. They worked out when they hired Klopp, I think it was 12 or 14 of his 16 seasons he’s overachieved as a manager.
“If you look at Simeone, Atletico Madrid with Real Madrid and Barcelona to play, he’s got them to two Champions League finals, he’s won the title a couple of times, he’s won the Europa League, he’s operated at the top level for a decade.
“So, though you might not like his style and the perception is of an ugly dark arts team, he is a manager who’s achieved a lot.”
Simeone’s CV is certainly a right fit for Liverpool. He’s a manager who has won a fair bit despite competition from Barcelona and Real Madrid every single year.
However, there’s no denying that his style of play wouldn’t go down well among some Liverpool fans were he to take the Anfield reins.
Atletico are a tenacious, combative side with a penchant for excelling in the dark arts. While it may have been successful, it would be a huge contrast from Klopp’s attractive, free-flowing game.
There’s no doubt that Alonso would be the absolute perfect fit for Liverpool. However, the question is, who would the Reds have as second-choice, third-choice and so on?
The post Liverpool could now be looking at 53-year-old manager who's been 'at the top level for a decade' - ESPN pundit appeared first on TBR Football.
