Who are the possible contenders to take over at Liverpool FC after Jurgen Klopp's departure?

260124
Xabi Alonso would be a popular replacement with the Anfield fans Credit: PA Images

Jurgen Klopp has shocked the world of football by announcing he will stand down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season after admitting he is “running out of energy”.

The 56-year-old informed the club’s ownership after a hugely successful spell in charge which has yielded six major trophies, including the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League the year after.

The announcement has already sparked rumours of who could be next to take over the helm at Anfield.

Klopp to leave Liverpool in bid for 'normal life'

Who could be next?

Xabi Alonso won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 Credit: PA Images

  • Xabi Alonso

A former Anfield favourite, Alonso began his coaching career with a Real Madrid youth team before being appointed Real Sociedad B boss in 2019.

Alonso guided the club to promotion in his second season in charge, but left the following season with relegation guaranteed with a game to spare.

The 42-year-old is currently in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season and top the table by four points from Bayern Munich.

However, the Spaniard is not thinking about his future amid immediate speculation linking him to the job.

“Speculation is normal. My focus is here in Leverkusen,” he told a press conference ahead of his side’s Bundesliga match with Borussia Monchengladbach.

“What is coming next, I don’t know. I’m not in that moment to think about the next step. I’m thinking about right now and I think I’m in a great place and I’m enjoying it.

“I think it is the right place and that is all I can say. What is going to happen in the future I don’t know and I don’t really care, to be honest.”

Klopp's biggest moments during 'fairytale' role at Liverpool
Former Kop idol Steven Gerrard was sacked by Aston Villa Credit: PA Images

  • Steven Gerrard

Gerrard looked a potential Liverpool manager in waiting after starting his coaching career with the youth teams at Anfield and then enjoying success at Rangers, leading the Scottish giants to their first league title for 10 years.

However, he failed to repeat such success at Aston Villa and was sacked after just two wins in the first 12 league games of the 2022-23 season and subsequently made a controversial move to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.

Roberto De Zerbi has impressed with his attacking style at Brighton Credit: PA Images

  • Roberto De Zerbi

Former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk manager De Zerbi would certainly match Klopp’s passion on the touchline, the 44-year-old serving two bans last season and admitting in November he does not like “80% of English referees”.

On the pitch, De Zerbi guided Brighton into Europe for the first time in their history and they topped Group B of the Europa League to reach the last 16.

Could Liverpool look to another German in Julian Nagelsmann? Credit: PA Images

  • Julian Nagelsmann

News of Klopp’s departure was quickly linked with the future of Germany head coach Nagelsmann, whose short-term contract with the national team ends after this summer’s European Championships.

Could the pair simply swap roles? Nagelsmann made his name at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig before winning the Bundesliga title and DFL-Supercup in his first season at Bayern Munich.

The ex-Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is currrently out of a job Credit: PA Images

  • Jose Mourinho

The former Porto, Chelsea and Manchester United manager is out of work after being sacked by Roma earlier this month with the side ninth in Serie A.

Mourinho won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup and three League Cups during two spells in charge of Chelsea after winning the Champions League with Porto.

The 61-year-old also won the Champions League as manager of Inter Milan and claimed the LaLiga title with Real Madrid, but would have plenty of work to do to win over Liverpool fans.