Liverpool next manager: Fans urged to ‘keep an eye on’ Xabi Alonso back-up

Xabi Alonso may still be the strong favourite to succeed Jurgen Klopp as the next Liverpool manager, but Reds fans have been told to “keep an eye on” another contender as the chase hots up for the Bayer Leverkusen man.

Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim has been widely seen as the club's backup option in its search for a new coach. Now, renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has backed up these claims, urging Liverpool fans to consider the Portuguese coach as a viable candidate.

Writing in his Daily Briefing for CaughtOffside, Romano said: "We know many clubs will be busy with hiring new managers over the summer, that Bayern [Munich] and Liverpool will fight for Xabi Alonso."

However, with reports suggesting that the Bavarians would be prepared to pull out all the stops to secure Alonso as their replacement for the outgoing Thomas Tuchel, this would potentially leave Liverpool scrambling for alternatives.

According to Romano, the clear second choice is Amorim. "Many clubs are looking at him, including in England, as he’s appreciated in the Premier League."

A successful coach

While Amorim's name joins the likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Roberto De Zerbi in the mix, Romano's endorsement suggests that the Sporting Lisbon boss may actually be a strong frontrunner for the Liverpool job.

The 39-year-old, who retired from professional football in 2017, swiftly transitioned to coaching in 2018, beginning his journey at Casa Pia. After this, he moved to coaching Braga's 'B' team, where worked extensively with young talent.

In 2019, Amorim earned a promotion to lead Braga's senior team, but his managerial journey reached new heights in March 2020 when he assumed the role of manager at Sporting Lisbon.

Amorim's coaching career has been marked by significant achievements. He boasts three Portuguese League Cup victories, securing two with Sporting and one with Braga. Additionally, he guided Sporting to a Primeira Liga triumph during the 2020/21 season.

Remarkably, Amorim maintains an impressive 70% win rate across more than 200 games.