Liverpool Next Manager: 4 of the worst shouts to replace Jurgen Klopp

With the announcement of Richard Hughes as the new sporting director, Liverpool are a step closer to appointing Jurgen Klopp's successor as manager.

Hughes, along with FSG's new CEO of football Michael Edwards, now has the task of plugging the gaping void about to be left by Klopp's imminent departure at the very top of his to-do list.

There are just over two months left of the legendary German's time at Anfield and, with the behind the scenes pieces now in place, expect moves to be made in the near future regarding finding a new man for the hotseat.

Xabi Alonso, of course, remains the popular choice and bookies' favourite but is far from a sure thing, with Leverkusen still adamant he'll stay and Bayern Munich also lurking.

Meanwhile, the likes of Ruben Amorim (Sporting CP), Roberto De Zerbi (Brighton) and Julian Nagelsmann (Germany) are among the other names regularly touted as realistic contenders, but there have been a whole host of other shouts as speculation and fantasy run wild.

Over two months on from Klopp's big announcement, just about anyone who is anyone in the world of football has been asked for who their pick would be to take over at Liverpool.

But not all opinions are created equal. Here are four of the worst shouts so far...

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Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus)

Says who? Giovanni Galeone

Ok, admittedly Allegri is a very proven winner, having lifted six Serie A titles among a host of other honours. He's also reached two Champions League finals.

On the other hand, the Juventus manager is, to put it generously, a little past his peak now.

No spring chicken anymore in managerial terms at 56 years old, Allegri is currently under serious pressure at Juve and has faced serious criticism for his tactics and leadership amid a run of one win in eight matches.

Apparently superglued to a 3-5-2 approach, Allegri is also famously a defence-first coach whose rigid and occasionally uninspiring football would represent a jarring change of direction after Klopp. It's unlikely to win over many fans.

Former manager Galeone has backed his friend Allegri for Anfield nonetheless.

"Until some time ago I would’ve told him to stay," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Now, however, I’d tell him that the time has come to seek success abroad as both Capello and Ancelotti did after so many successes in Italy.

"I don’t see Max in Arabia, but he would be perfect for the Premier League.

"Next summer will be a summer of great changes throughout Europe, I think Max would do very well at Liverpool post-Klopp or at Manchester United."

No, grazie.

Thomas Tuchel (Bayern Munich)

Says who? Dimitar Berbatov

Set for the exit from Bayern Munich at the end of the season, Tuchel has already been tipped for a return to England and former Manchester United and Tottenham forward Berbatov reckons Liverpool would do well to appoint him.

Speaking to Betfair, the ex-striker said: "I think Liverpool should continue to chase Alonso. If they can't get him then there are other coaches on the market like Thomas Tuchel.

"Tuchel would be the next contender for me to replace Klopp if they miss out on Alonso.‌ Sometimes clubs will try to play it safe based on the manager's reputation or sometimes clubs take a chance and go for a not so big name, but at Liverpool, they have to go for success, and I think Tuchel or Alonso would be a good fit."

Like Allegri, Tuchel does have obvious pedigree.

The 50-year-old has won honours in three countries, including winning the Champions League with Chelsea. However, he is a notoriously demanding coach, who has had some fairly spectacular fallings out with players and club chiefs.

His spells at Dortmund, PSG and Chelsea all ended in varying levels of acrimony with Todd Boehly allegedly once describing the German as a 'nightmare'.

Since leaving Mainz in 2014, he has never lasted more than two years in a job and is set to leave Bayern with the unwanted tag of having delivered a trophyless season for the first time in what feels like forever.

Franck Haise (Lens)

Says who? Jonathan Johnson

A very hipster shout.

According to journalist Johnson, Lens head coach Haise is an outside contender for the Reds, with his work in France even comparable to Klopp's time at Dortmund.

He told CaughtOffside: "Lens has huge cultural significance to French football, a huge fan-base, and there are a lot of parallels between them and Borussia Dortmund, which perhaps makes sense as him being linked as someone who could follow Jurgen Klopp."

52-year-old Haise is doing an admirable good at Lens, having been the best team not named PSG last season, while also picking up the Ligue 1 Manager of the Year award.

He is also tactically flexible, highly regarded by his peers and has a reputation for developing talent.

However, outside of his four years at Lens, his only managerial experience was a three-game caretaker spell at Lorient.

The jump to Liverpool is simply too immense and if he were to seek a move to England a smaller club may be far more likely at this stage.

Johnson has also conceded that there may also be "some issues with the language barrier".

Steven Gerrard (Al Ettifaq)

Says who? Harry Redknapp

If you asked ChatGPT to come up with a Harry Redknapp suggestion for the next Liverpool manager it would probably be this.

Speaking to BetVictor, the King of the Jungle himself backed the former Reds skipper for the top job, saying: "I’m going to say somebody and people are going to think that I’m off my head, but I would give it to Steven Gerrard.

"I know people will say that he was a failure at Aston Villa and it didn’t go great there, but he’s a Liverpool man and was an incredible player for them. He’s got passion for the game and I used to listen to him speak when he was at Rangers and always thought he was going to be top drawer. I would love to see him manage Liverpool."

Now it goes without saying that Gerrard is a Liverpool legend and nothing will change that, but his recent exploits as a manager show that legendary status will likely be confined to his role as a player and not a coach.

Who knows, maybe, in some future, there is a way back into the Liverpool conversation for Gerrard, but going directly from Al Ettifaq to replacing Klopp in the year 2024 is not it.