Is Klopp as important to Liverpool as Ferguson was to Man Utd?
As the football world eagerly awaits the end of the Premier League season, one question looms large over the future of Liverpool: who will succeed Jürgen Klopp as manager? This is a daunting task for Michael Edwards, the man charged with hiring Klopp’s successor, as he faces the pressure of finding someone who can fill the shoes of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
United have been struggling to replace Ferguson since his retirement in 2013, going through five permanent managers in just eight years. And with the team currently struggling to qualify for the Champions League, it seems likely that they will be looking for their sixth manager this summer.
Avoiding the same succession nightmare that United have endured is the big challenge for Edwards, who recently returned to Liverpool as CEO of Football for Fenway Sports Group (FSG). But while United have been criticized for their mistakes, some of them were out of their control. And now, Liverpool are facing similar, unavoidable problems.
When David Moyes was announced as Ferguson’s successor, he was hailed as “The Chosen One,” handpicked by the legendary manager himself. But the reality is that Moyes was United’s sixth choice, as the club either moved too slowly to secure more qualified candidates or were rejected by those who preferred other options.
United were in a crowded market for a new boss in 2013, with Real Madrid and Chelsea already securing their top choices. And while United spoke to Klopp and other top managers, they ultimately ended up with Moyes, who was fired within a year.
Now, with Klopp set to leave Liverpool this summer, the club has had plenty of time to find a new manager. But the recent return of Edwards has marked the real start of the process, and there have already been some bumps in the road.
Xabi Alonso, a top target for Liverpool, recently ruled himself out of the running by pledging his future to Bayer Leverkusen. And now, two other candidates, Roberto De Zerbi and Ruben Amorim, are being pursued by heavyweight rivals Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
As compelling as the challenge of managing Liverpool may be, reviving the fortunes of Barcelona or Bayern will also be attractive to top coaches. And with United and Chelsea also potentially looking for new managers this summer, Liverpool could face even more competition for their top choices.
So who will be the next manager of Liverpool? While there are some potential candidates, such as Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, and out-of-work coaches like Jose Mourinho and Zinedine Zidane, there are also potential roadblocks and negatives for each of them.
If Edwards and Liverpool are able to move quickly and decisively for their top choice, they may be able to avoid the pitfalls that befell United after Ferguson’s retirement. But as Alonso’s exit from the race and the interest from other top clubs shows, finding the right successor to a legend is no easy task.
Summary:
The search for Jürgen Klopp’s successor at Liverpool is a daunting task for Michael Edwards, who must find someone to fill the shoes of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. United have struggled to replace Ferguson since his retirement in 2013, and with Liverpool facing similar challenges, the pressure is on to make the right choice. While there are some potential candidates, there are also potential roadblocks and competition from other top clubs. The key for Liverpool will be to move quickly and decisively to avoid the pitfalls that befell United after Ferguson’s retirement.
