Following Jurgen Klopp’s unexpected declaration that he will leave his position as manager of Liverpool this summer, the dust may have settled, but every fan still harbours a deep sense of hopelessness.
How on earth is Anfield going to replace a manager this respected and revolutionary? With silverware very much on the line this term, the 56-year-old has won six major titles during his eight and a half years in office. However, that is not the reason his name will always be hanging and adorned on the walls of the Anfield halls.
After manager was appointed in 2015, Klopp promised to turn “doubters into believers,” and his sublime reign has given Liverpool new energy and enhanced the happiness of a proud and football-crazed city.
However, he has earned the right to determine when his time as manager is coming to an end. Despite this bitterness, the Reds are currently making a strong effort to find and select a deserving replacement.
Liverpool’s manager shortlist
Although Xabi Alonso, the manager of Bayer Leverkusen, is the clear favourite to succeed Klopp at Liverpool, his contract at the BayArena runs until 2026, and the Bundesliga leaders are supposedly sure they can keep him.
Ruben Amorim might keep Nunez firing.
The owners of Liverpool, FSG, will be anxious to prevent a shift in power from turning into something without unity, vigour, or promise.
Although Alonso, who made 210 appearances and won the Champions League with Liverpool, is the choice, Amorim may be a good substitute for Klopp because Sporting is a dynamic and tactically flexible squad, and he could flourish on Merseyside.
This is precisely the kind of system that Liverpool could adopt, as they tend to field a 3-4-3 formation that allows ball-playing centre backs to drift into pockets of space centrally and pull the strings from deep. Two of the Premier League’s best defensive distributors, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, have completed more than 89% of their passes this season.
Additionally, Anfield has been heavily linked to a move for Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio for some time. The 22-year-old is one of the most inventive and technically skilled center-halves in the league, and talent scout Jacek Kulig has noted that Amorim may bring the “complete” defender with him.
Crucially, though, giving Amorim the keys might keep Darwin Nunez’s steadily increasing presence at the team. The Uruguayan striker, who signed for a club record £85 million in 2022 after leaving SL Benfica, wasted 20 significant opportunities in the English Premier League and faced criticism for his wastefulness.
But Klopp has, more importantly than anybody else, and the Liverpool supporters have stuck with their man—a fearsome, resilient, and spirited striker.
The 24-year-old has made just 20 starts this season and has already racked up 11 goals and 10 assists. He has also improved his mobility and influence, moving with greater dexterity and economy.
Amorim enjoys wearing teams down with precise passing patterns and rapid passes before tearing apart the defence with through balls that are laser-focused, and Nunez’s quickness and vigour will undoubtedly help him continue his excellent play under new management.
While Alonso is still the favourite, Amorim would make a great backup and has shown himself by leading his team to victory in the Liga Portugal in 2020–21, defeating FC Porto and the mighty Benfica. Journalist Zach Lowy has called Amorim a “special” manager.
After Klopp made his announcement, the 39-year-old’s ears would have perked up, and Liverpool was smart to have him marked.