Five contenders to replace Klopp at Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp Photo by Ian Kington / IKIMAGES / AFP

Jurgen Klopp’s shock decision to step down at the end of the season leaves Liverpool looking for a new manager for the first time in nearly a decade.

AFP Sports looks at five of the contenders to replace the German next season:

Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen)

A former Liverpool midfielder, Alonso is the front-runner thanks to the remarkable job he is doing at German club Leverkusen.

Not since Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund won back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012 have the might of Bayern Munich been dethroned as German champions.

But that run is in danger with Leverkusen unbeaten in 27 games in all competitions this season and four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

The Spaniard is putting into practice an extraordinary football education having played under Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez and Vicente del Bosque as a player.

Although Alonso is also admired by former clubs Bayern and Real Madrid, Klopp’s exit could allow Liverpool to swoop for the hottest coaching prospect in European football.

Roberto De Zerbi (Brighton)

The Italian has earned rave reviews for both his results and style of play since taking over at Brighton in September 2021.

De Zerbi led the Seagulls into Europe for the first time in the club’s history last season and has reached the last 16 of the Europa League.

However, he was reminded of Brighton’s place in the Premier League food chain as Liverpool snapped up Alexis Mac Allister in the summer transfer window and tried to also land Moises Caicedo before he joined Chelsea for a British transfer record fee in August.

De Zerbi has rebuilt impressively with Brighton seventh in the Premier League table, but the chance to compete for