Life After Klopp: Who’s The Person To Continue The Legacy?

There’s still some time before Jurgen Klopp leaves Liverpool. By 2026, when his contract expires, he’ll have for over a decade, a rarity in this day and age, and will have at least a Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League winner’s medal to his name, making him one of the most successful managers in the club’s history, during a period where the quality of the Premier League has been at its highest.

But whether Klopp leaves Anfield at the end of his contract, before it finishes or after an extension, at some point his tenure will come to an end. We know, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

That begs the question, who will fill those size 11 Adidas trainers come that fateful day?

It’s a difficult question to answer, and there are a few candidates where if you were to toss a coin or take a spin on a roulette wheel, you could end up with a win either way. But of course, like at 777 Casino Netherlands, there will be choices that are the right ones, and there will be the wrong ones too.

Manchester United post Sir Alex Ferguson is a prime example of that. So, who are the contenders to take over Klopp?

Pep Lijnders

Speaking of the Netherlands, it is Klopp’s assistant Pep Lijnders who is currently favourite with the bookmakers. It would perhaps be the most seamless transition should the Reds be continuing to thrive under Klopp’s philosophy. Lijnders has been with the German gaffer throughout his time at the club, with only a short spell at NEC in 2018.

He already knows the club inside out and would be a worthy replacement. The only question mark is, can he step up to the first team manager role, a position he’s only held for five months of his career.

Julian Nagelsmann

Nagelsmann has quite the challenge ahead of himself at the minute trying to transform the fortunes of the German national team. He’s proven himself at club level though, having taken RB Leipzig to a Champions League semi-final, and winning the Bundesliga with Bayern.

His style suits Liverpool, which is perhaps why the German national side were so keen to bring him in for the current project. He’s second favourite with the bookies at around 11/2, ahead of the likes of Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso.

Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso looks a good possibility, perhaps ahead of Steven Gerrard, a man that looked almost certain to take the reins from Klopp until his struggles at Aston Villa and move to Saudi.

Alonso reportedly has a clause in his contract at Bayer Leverkusen which would allow him to return to Liverpool next summer, should the job be available. Reds fans would certainly be delighted with that, particularly given how well he is doing in the Bundesliga, and it would be perfect both from a coaching perspective as well as that connection to the club.

Steven Gerrard

Gerrard is still being hotly touted by the bookmakers, but it looks further away than it ever has been since the legend’s retirement. He’ll certainly need a move away from Saudi Arabia and be settled in a more competitive division if he is going to get the nod following Klopp.

The move to Saudi Arabia could prove a good reset button for Gerrard though, and he may come back stronger, enjoying managerial life just as he did up in Glasgow. It’s certainly an outsiders bet as it stands, though.

The truth is, nobody quite knows when Klopp may decide to call it a day. It’s almost certain the decision will be on his terms, though, with the German having helped return Liverpool to one of the true giants of world football. It’s a difficult act to follow…

 

Written by Alan Spencer