Michael Edwards has narrowed down his choices for Liverpool’s next manager to three candidates, contingent upon Xabi Alonso’s continued stay in Germany.
With Jurgen Klopp’s impending departure announcement, Liverpool faces the daunting task of finding a successor to one of their most iconic figures. Former Liverpool player Alonso has emerged as a prime candidate for the role.
Alonso’s impressive stint at Bayer Leverkusen, where he’s poised to potentially disrupt Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga dominance while also eyeing success in the Europa League and German Cup, has solidified his candidacy. Despite interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, it seems Bayern could pose the biggest threat to Liverpool in securing Alonso’s services.
However, former Leverkusen sporting director Reiner Calmund recently expressed confidence that Alonso might opt to stay with his current club for another two years, potentially rejecting offers from Liverpool and Bayern.
“I firmly believe Alonso will be the coach of Leverkusen next season,” he said.
“As a player he won everything, including the Champions League at Real Madrid. Ancelotti has extended his contract, so at the moment there’s no danger.
“If I was Alonso’s agent, I wouldn’t advise him to go to Liverpool as Klopp’s successor. I would recommend he stays in Leverkusen for one or two more years and then perhaps replace Ancelotti.”
Julian Nagelsmann have emerged as a potential target for Liverpool
As Michael Edwards, poised for a senior role return, navigates the managerial landscape, he will keep a keen eye on the Xabi Alonso situation. While Edwards remains intent on securing Alonso, he has contingency plans in place.
According to Football Insider, Nagelsmann, De Zerbi, and Amorim are the three alternative managers on Edwards’ radar.
Despite Nagelsmann’s less-than-ideal stint at Bayern, his reputation as one of Europe’s top young coaches remains intact. Liverpool values his track record in youth development, especially prior to his Bayern tenure.
With Nagelsmann’s contract with the German FA set to expire this summer, Liverpool could pursue him if his performance at the European Championship falls short.
De Zerbi has caught Liverpool’s attention since joining the Premier League at Brighton in 2022, although competition from Manchester United and Barcelona complicates matters.
Amorim, meanwhile, is gaining traction on Liverpool’s shortlist. The 39-year-old’s success at Sporting CP, including league title victories and domestic cup triumphs, has not gone unnoticed by the Reds.
Who do you think is best suited for the role?