New manager not the priority at Liverpool as different search begins

Liverpool are not going to prioritise hiring a new manager just yet. The Reds want to make a different appointment first.

The Telegraph claims Liverpool want to hire a new sporting director ahead of a new manager. This comes after a day of shock announcements at Anfield that will see the club transformed later this year.

The headline news is that Jurgen Klopp will step down at the end of the season. The manager has been in charge since late 2015 but will call time on his era once the campaign is wrapped up.

He won't be the only departure, however. Key coaching staff will leave at the same time, Pep Lijnders principally among them. Sporting director Jorg Schmadtke will also depart at the end of his contract this summer.

And that's the priority role to replace, says the Telegraph. Liverpool want to hire a new sporting director before choosing their new manager, meaning they don't plan to appoint Klopp's successor until after the season.

Instead, the focus is on Schmadtke's successor. It's a stance that makes some sense - any new sporting director will be key in appointing the new manager and Liverpool will want to involve them in the process.

No names have been put forward for the position, though the Reds will almost certainly have some names in mind. They had to quickly draw up candidates last year, of course, after Julian Ward shocked everyone at the club by stepping down after just a year in the role.

Now Liverpool will hope to find some stability with their sporting director. That feels particularly important given the lack of stability coming in the coaching roles - the enormous change this summer can be handled with the right person overseeing it.

It's important to get this one right, then. But you can say that for a lot of the coming decisions in 2024.