Having had a few weeks for Liverpool fans to come to terms with Klopp’s farewell at the end of the season, the attention turns towards who will succeed him this summer.
We take a look at the three favourites below.
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Xabi Alonso 4/6
On the day of the announcement, Xabi Alonso was already made the favourite to take over in the summer from Klopp. The Spaniard has taken the Bundesliga by storm this season with Bayer Leverkusen, who are currently top of the league by eight points, set to lift their first ever first division trophy. Naturally, as an ex-Liverpool player, Alonso would relish the opportunity to head back to his former club and take over, however, you have to wonder whether given the monumental success his team is having this season, could Bayer Leverkusen keep hold of him for another season or two?
Alonso has been the favourite in the market since it opened and seems an obvious choice as he’s shown his elite capabilities as a manager, and at the age of 42, still has plenty of life left in his career. So, settling back into life in Merseyside could be a familiar and inviting change of pace for the Spaniard and he would be a replacement Liverpool fans could be excited for in light of the sadness around Klopp’s exit.
Ruben Amorim 4/1
Second to Alonso is Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim, another ‘young’ manager at only 39 years of age. Amorim has been in charge of the Portuguese club since 2020 and has taken them to new heights, with a Primeira Liga title, two Taca da Liga titles, and the Supertaca Candido de Oliveira title to his name. Sporting CP are currently battling it out against Benfica in the title race but given Amorim has been there for four years now, he might be looking for a change of scene and a new challenge in the Premier League with Liverpool.
Not only is Amorim a passionate and animated individual, which are traits that Klopp possesses in abundance, he has proven himself to be a decent manager and at such a young age has earnt the respect he deserves in the footballing world. A move to the Premier League would consolidate his reputation and no doubt be a welcome challenge with regards to his future.
Roberto De Zerbi 7/1
Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi is third in the shortlist to take over Klopp’s duties at Liverpool. He has earnt plenty of respect and many admirers since taking over the Seagulls from Graham Potter when he moved to Chelsea. De Zerbi has done fantastic things at Brighton, having marshalled them from a mid-table team to a club that have been fighting for a place in the top six in the Premier League.
De Zerbi has brought attention on himself due to the nature in which he implores his team to play, which similarly to Klopp, revolves around possession-based football that allows them to dominate the game. This is a shout that Liverpool fans would get on board with, as De Zerbi has shown many attributes similar to that of their beloved Jurgen Klopp.
