Jurgen Klopp replacement: examining 5 top candidates to potentially succeed the German at Liverpool

Liverpool are currently on a great run-of-form under the management of German tactician Jurgen Klopp, who was bashed and on the verge of getting sacked for not getting results last season. But he did promise to come back stronger and fight for the top 4 place in the league, and he delivered well on his promise.

This season, the manager has turned the situation around and the fans may have thought their manager was going to remain with them for a couple more seasons now. However, recent shocking revelations about Klopp’s future have surprised the whole football world and opened up so many crazy possibilities for the future.

Examining 5 candidates to potentially succeed Jurgen Klopp

Earlier this evening, the Liverpool official channel released a video revealing a really shocking announcement. In this video, the German manager was seen assessing his future at the club and revealed that he is set to leave the club at the end of the current season on his own accordance. He also revealed the reason behind his decision, stating that he doesn’t feel the energy anymore and even though he is fine right now, he knew he had to do this now or later since he can’t go on doing the job again and again.

This announcement must have shocked the whole Liverpool fan base and they would be devastated right now but sources report that the Liverpool administration is already thinking about possible replacements for the German genius come the end of the season, with the following names on the list :

• Xabi Alonso
• Roberto De Zerbi
• Zinedine Zidane
• José Mourinho
• Steven Gerrard

Former Real Madrid player and youth coach Xabi Alonso is in just his second season as a manager in European first-division football and is already working wonders with the Bayer Leverkusen team currently in the top spot in the Bundesliga. His natural playing tactics revolve around a 3-4-3 formation, with the two wingbacks focused on delivering crosses and the two second strikers behind No. 9 focused on dribbling and messing up the opponent’s defensive stability. He could be a really good option for the Liverpool management but he is already linked with a move to the Real Madrid management post-Ancelotti era.

Current Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi has been doing a wonderful job with the English side since he was hired after former Brighton manager Graham Potter left for Chelsea mid-season. He has been known for dragging out results against the top with his possession-style-based counter-pressing football, which just opens up the opponent team with a few concrete, structured fast passes after inviting them to press the team all along the field. He could actually be a real option for the Liverpool side, as they are also known to be masters of the gegen-pressing system.

Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is actually a really good option considering he is currently not working for any team and has obviously achieved so many things with the Real Madrid side, which included stars like CR7, Benzema and Gareth Bale. He has won numerous Champions Leagues with the club and is known for being able to manage stars in his team.

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is currently working for no club after getting sacked from the AS Roma managerial position, even though he helped them win their first major title last season in recent years. He is a viable option as his playing tactics depend on counter-attacking football and the current Liverpool side has many pacy wingers, including the injured Mohamed Salah, to do so.

Former Liverpool player Steven Gerrard is also an option despite extending his contract with the Saudi club Al-Ettifaq recently. The former Liverpool youth coach knows the club thoroughly and could be a really decent option despite having not been able to do great things with his previous clubs as a manager. This opportunity could also act as a break-through point for his managerial career.

Potential landing zone for Jurgen Klopp

Even though the decision has left the whole football world frustrated because they all expected the manager to achieve greater things with the club, there have been a few individuals who would have been extremely delighted and opportunistic to take advantage of this opportunity as much as possible.

Recent reports have suggested a possible national team managerial role for the former Borussia Dortmund manager with the Germany national team, which has not been performing that well under the new and young manager Julian Nagelsmann. The team has played four matches under him and has been able to win only one, with one draw and two losses.

The Germany national team could be a real option for the former Eintracht Frankfurt youth coach but another option at the club level seems to be FC Barcelona from the Spanish league.

Recent reports have claimed that current manager Xavi Hernandez might be on his way out at the end of the current season due to his horrible performance with the team this season, which just opens up a whole new possibility for the German manager.

According to reports, the Catalan side’s president, Joan Laporta, dreams of making the German genius Jurgen Klopp his team’s manager next season. Barca is in a dire state of need for a leading figure inside the dressing room and on the sidelines, and Jurgen Klopp could easily be the person to do so.

His managerial tactics of the gegen-pressing system will also suit the team, which is full of youngsters, as the current team is known for the best pressing actions throughout the Spanish league. It could be really magical if both the team and the manager are able to be together for the upcoming seasons.

It would be interesting to keep an eye out for the future of Jurgen Klopp, who is already destined for greatness wherever he chooses to go. Even though the Liverpool side might be disheartened by the announcement, they have to get their minds together and think about their future.