Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp recently confirmed that he will leave the club at the end of the season.
The 56-year-old German manager is looking to take a break from management in order to recharge his batteries and Liverpool will now need to bring in a quality replacement for him.
Here at the Hard Tackle, we look at five potential candidates who could replace the charismatic German at Anfield next season.
Ruben Amorim
The 39-year-old Sporting CP manager has done an impressive job at the Portuguese club and he has been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months.
Amorim has not only introduced and attractive brand of football at the Portuguese club, but he has also helped nurture talented young players like Goncalo Inacio, Ousmane Diomande, Marcus Edwards and Pedro Goncalves.
Liverpool have several talented young players at their disposal and Amorim could be the ideal manager to nurture them into established first team stars. In addition to that, Liverpool prefer a free flowing attacking style of football and the 39-year-old could be the ideal fit for them.
Although a move to the Premier League would be a major step up in his career, Amorim knows what it takes to manage a big club and he has already guided Sporting CP to a league title during his time at the club. He has won other domestic trophies with them as well.
The Portuguese manager has been linked with a move to Manchester United as well and it will be interesting to see if Liverpool can overtake their bitter rivals in the race to appoint him.
Xabi Alonso
The former Liverpool midfielder has done an exceptional job at Bayer Leverkusen this season and the German outfit are currently on top of the league table and they will be hoping to win the Bundesliga this season.
Leverkusen are yet to be defeated in the league this season and their free flowing attacking system has attracted praise from fans as well as neutrals.
Alonso knows the club well from his playing time and he should prove to be a quality addition to the Liverpool hotseat.
The Spanish football manager is already a fan favourite at Liverpool from his time as a player and Liverpool fans would certainly warm up to the idea of having him as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.
Despite the lack of experience as a manager, the 42-year-old has shown tremendous tactical versatility during his time in the Bundesliga and he would be an exciting addition for the future.
Zinedine Zidane
The 51-year-old French manager is certainly one of the most successful managers of the modern era and he has won multiple trophies with Real Madrid.
The Frenchman is currently without a job and it remains to be seen whether the opportunity to manage Liverpool can bring him back to the game.
Zidane has managed to win two league titles and three Champions League trophies along with other domestic cups for Real Madrid and he knows what it takes to manage a big club. The 51-year-old could deal with the expectations at Liverpool with expertise and help the Reds compete for major trophies.
Jose Mourinho
The 61-year-old manager recently parted ways with Italian club Roma and he has extensive experience of managing in the Premier League. He has managed clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Mourinho has won several trophies during his time in England and he knows the league inside out. He has the experience of managing expectations at a big club as well and he could prove to be an interesting acquisition.
The Portuguese manager has won league titles and Champions League trophies at multiple leagues across the world and it will be interesting to see if Liverpool opt for a seasoned veteran like him as they look to replace one of the best managers in their history.
Roberto de Zerbi
The Italian manager has done quite well since taking over at Brighton and Hove Albion. He has shown that he is good enough to manage in the Premier League and the Seagulls have played an exciting brand of football under him.
In addition to that, Brighton have shown the ability to grind out results against the big clubs and De Zerbi is certainly tactically proficient to manage at the highest level.
Brighton are currently pushing for European qualification and that further highlights the Italian manager’s pedigree at this level.
The 44-year-old could prove to be an exciting addition for Liverpool and it remains to be seen whether the Reds decide to make a move for him at the end of the season.
He has been linked with a move to Manchester United as well. The Red Devils are unhappy with the way the season has unfolded and Erik ten Hag faces an uncertain future at the club.
Jurgen Klopp has been exceptional for Liverpool since joining them in 2015 and he has guided them to a Premier League title and a Champions League trophy. The Reds have won multiple domestic trophies under his management as well and they have been competing at the highest level on a consistent basis. Replacing him will be an uphill challenge for the Premier League club and whoever steps into his shoes will be under tremendous pressure.
It will be interesting to see if Liverpool can ensure a seamless transition into a new era this summer.
Interesting choices – I am just glad there was no mention of Gerrard, Howe, and Dyche