Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and the other former Liverpool players currently in management

Xabi Alonso has been the name on the tongue of every Liverpool supporter

asked about who they would like to replace Jurgen Klopp.

The former Liverpool midfielder is doing a sensational job at Bayer Leverkusen and is the number one candidate to take over from Klopp in the Anfield dugout.

However, not too long ago, Steven Gerrard was the former Liverpool midfielder touted as Klopp's successor, but the 43-year-old's stock has plummeted significantly over the past two years.

With clubs more keen than ever to see their former employees take over in the hot seat, there are plenty of ex-Reds currently in the management game.

Here are the most notable former Liverpool stars who are currently managers.

XABI ALONSO

Let's start with everyone's favourite Spaniard right now.

Alonso actually began his coaching career at one of his other former clubs, Real Madrid, managing their U14s while he completed his elite coaching course.

After a year in that role, Alonso moved to Real Sociedad B - another one of his old sides - where he won the team promotion to La Liga 2 for the first time since the early 1960s.

Unfortunately, the step up proved too much for Real Sociedad B, who were relegated the following campaign, with Alonso departing his role as manager.

However, he didn't have to wait long for the dream opportunity, with Bayer Leverkusen taking a chance on the 42-year-old and appointing him as head coach two months into the 2022/23 Bundesliga season.

Die Werkself reached the Europa League semi-final and finished sixth in the Bundesliga, but have taken their game to a whole new level in Alonso's first full season at the helm.

The former Liverpool No.14 currently has Leverkusen top of the Bundesliga table, ahead of Bayern Munich by eight points, and they remain unbeaten in all competitions.

STEVEN GERRARD

Gerrard is likely casting a rather envious eye towards his old midfield partner Alonso, with the former Liverpool skipper having been expected to succeed Klopp for some time.

A brief stint within Liverpool's academy setup was followed by an impressive first role in management, Gerrard looking to restore past glories at Glasgow giants Rangers.

Despite some ups and downs north of the English border, he did exactly that during the 2020/21 season, guiding Rangers to their first league title for a decade after an unbeaten Scottish Premiership campaign.

However, Gerrard jumped ship at Ibrox to take over Aston Villa in the Premier League midway through the following season and, despite some good early results, things quickly unravelled in the Midlands.

Gerrard was replaced by the mightily impressive Unai Emery just two months into the 2022/23 season, with the Spaniard having since transformed the Villans into top four contenders.

The Liverpool icon is now in charge of Al Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League and, despite signing a recent contract extension, has found himself under pressure after some poor results in the Middle East.

ROBBIE FOWLER

Robbie Fowler's managerial career path has been far from ordinary.

Towards the end of his playing career in 2011, the prolific striker was named player-manager of Thai football club Muangthong United, but he would return to Merseyside to work with Liverpool's academy in 2013.

It was six years until he returned as a senior manager, joining up with Brisbane Roar in the Australian A-League. Fowler had played down under and made a positive start to life at the club until he resigned due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Fowler then travelled back to Asia to manage East Bengal in the Indian Super League, who were surprise ninth-place finishers during his only season in charge of the club.

The ex-Liverpool sharpshooter then returned to a full-time management role in the summer of 2023, following the same path as Gerrard by taking residence at Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia.

Despite winning six of his eight league games in charge of the side, he left his position just four months after his arrival.

DIRK KUYT

A player known for his tireless work rate at Anfield, Dirk Kuyt has also taken the step into coaching.

Starting out as an assistant manager at the wonderfully named Quick Boys and moving into the U20 manager role at old club Feyenoord, the Dutchman earned his first senior role in June 2022.

Staying in the Netherlands, Kuyt took charge of ADO Den Haag, but lasted just five months before being dismissed after a run of poor results.

Kuyt is currently in the hot seat at Belgian second division club Beerschot, where he was appointed manager on 28 December 2023 until the end of the season.

Beerschot have won three, drawn two and lost one of Kuyt's six games as coach.

ALBERT RIERA

A man who never managed to forge a career at Anfield, Albert Riera has enjoyed a promising start to life as a manager.

The Spaniard's first role came in 2022 with Slovenian side Olimpija Ljubljana but he was literally chased out of his first press conference by the club's ultras due to their anger at previous manager Robert Prosinecki's dismissal.

However, despite a tough relationship with supporters, Riera won the league and cup double during his first season, leaving at the end of the campaign after not being offered a new deal by the Slovenian champions.

Riera stayed in Slovenia with Celje, but left the club after just 17 games despite guiding them to the top of the table. He joined Ligue 2 side Bordeaux just a few days later, who currently sit 14th in the table.

RIGOBERT SONG

Rigobert Song was another signing who never quite lived up to expectation on Merseyside, spending just two years with the Reds.

He went on to play for the likes of Koln, West Ham United and Galatasaray before moving into management, and he is currently the head coach of the Cameroon national team.

After working his way through the nation's youth teams, Song was appointed first-team coach in February 2022, although Cameroon were unable to qualify from their 2022 World Cup group despite beating Brazil.

At the recent 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon were knocked out of the last 16 by eventual finalists Nigeria. Song may not last too much longer as head coach.

FERNANDO TORRES

While not yet a senior manager, former Liverpool star Fernando Torres' coaching career is well underway.

'El Nino' is currently in charge of Atletico Madrid's U19 side having come through that very same team during his playing days and has them sat at the top of the league table ahead of city rivals Real Madrid.

Such impressive performances are likely to catch the eye, as did his surprising bust-up with former Liverpool teammate Alvaro Arbeloa during the U19 Madrid derby.

OTHER LIVERPOOL PLAYERS TURNED MANAGERS

• Mauricio Pellegrino - Cadiz

• Nigel Clough - Mansfield Town

• Robbie Keane - Maccabi Tel Aviv

• Alberto Aquilani - Pisa

• Andrea Dossena - Pro Vercelli

• John Arne Riise - Avaldsnes IL

• Javier Mascherano - Argentina U20s

• Alvaro Arbeloa - Real Madrid U19s