Unprecedented news has broken that Jurgen Klopp will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. The German manager will have enjoyed almost nine years at the club, winning their first-ever Premier League, a Champions League, an FA Cup and an EFL Cup. The only competition he has competed in and failed to win is the Europa League – which he could still do this season. We provide our top five Jurgen Klopp replacements.
Top Five Jurgen Klopp Replacements
1. Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso played for Liverpool from 2004 to 2009. He won the FA Cup and the Champions League, scoring the equaliser in the 3-0 comeback against AC Milan. A fan favourite as a player, we are sure he would continue to win their hearts as manager.
Alonso is currently managing Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, described as a “role model on the sidelines” since his appointment in October 2022, Leverkusen sat second-bottom – but by the end of the season, he had guided them to sixth – in the Europa League spots.
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This season, his side sits first in the Bundesliga, four points clear of Bayern Munich, and are undefeated in the league.
Crucially, his contract reportedly allows three teams to activate a release clause: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool. If the Spaniard can win his first title in Germany, he may relish a new challenge in England.
2. Roberto De Zerbi
Roberto De Zerbi is fast making a name for himself, taking Brighton to new heights after Graham Potter’s departure.
The Seagulls finished sixth last season and sit seventh this campaign. De Zerbi has overseen the emergence of star players like Kaoru Mitoma, Moises Caicedo, and Alexis Mac Allister (now at Liverpool).
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However, their philosophy of buying hidden gems, turning them into superstars, and selling them for a profit may be limiting De Zerbi’s ability to progress as a manager. The club will struggle to break into the top four if they keep selling their star players, and so the Italian may be swayed by a club that can enable him to unlock his full potential.
3. Julian Nagelsmann
Whilst Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern Munich tenure did not end well, he had great success with RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim.
The 36-year-old is currently in charge of Germany, who have a home Euros in the summer. With the competition ending on July 14, this would allow him to resign from his post afterwards and join Liverpool ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The extent of Germany’s success in the competition may factor into Liverpool’s decision.
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4. Marco Rose
Another German manager who may be a candidate for the job is Marco Rose. Currently in charge of RB Leipzig, the 47-year-old achieved an impressive third-place finish last campaign and sits fourth this year.
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This would be a similar appointment to Klopp, a young manager succeeding in the Bundesliga with a team that is not a footballing powerhouse. Perhaps this would reside with the fans more than a “big name.”
5. Zinedine Zidane
There is a chance that Liverpool may look to one of the “big names” to allow the club to compete with Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.
Zinedine Zidane became the first manager to win the Champions League back-to-back, winning it for a third successive year in 2018. The Frenchman also won La Liga twice. However, the former Real Madrid manager has not managed since 2021 and may be tempted – to prove himself at Anfield.
