With Liverpool now virtually certain of who their new sporting director will be, it’s full steam ahead on the search to replace Jurgen Klopp.
After Michael Edwards was appointed as FSG’s new CEO of football, he’s expected to hire Bournemouth’s Richard Hughes to oversee things at Liverpool this summer. From there, the race is on to ensure the Reds get their biggest appointment of the modern era right.
So far, the clear front-runner has been former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso. However, with it far from certain that Alonso will be tempted by a return to Anfield, other options are also reportedly being assessed.
One such candidate is claimed to be Lens manager Franck Haise. In quotes from CaughtOffside today, French football expert Jonathan Johnson has confirmed that Liverpool are taking a look at hiring Haise.
“Although we’ve heard a lot about names like Xabi Alonso and Roberto De Zerbi, Lens manager Franck Haise has also been linked as one potential outsider for the Liverpool job after his impressive work in Ligue 1,” Johnson explains.
“My understanding is that, yes, there has been interest in him going back a couple of years now, not just from Liverpool but also from other clubs across Europe.”
Liverpool looking at Haise
For those who don’t follow French football, Haise will perhaps be a completely unknown name. Despite being 52-years-old, the former midfielder is not a hugely experienced head coach.
Having spent a number of years in France’s lower leagues and as an assistant at Lorient, Haise took a job with Lens’ B team in 2017.
From there, he was promoted to the top job in 2020, with Lens in Ligue 2. They weren’t there long though, Haise guiding the Blood and Gold to second place and promotion. After that, Lens’ story has been one of constant improvement.
They surprised everyone to finish 7th in Ligue 1 in their first top-flight season for years in 2020/21. Haise then proved that that was no fluke by following up with an identical finish in 2021/22.
Then, to top it off, the manager guided Lens to second place and a Champions League spot last season.
They might well repeat the trick this time, too. Although currently sitting in fifth place, Lens are just four points off Brest in second. PSG are well clear at the top, but another runners-up spot would be mightily impressive.
This all paints a picture of a manager who is learning his trade and getting better all the time. Whether it’s enough to mark him out as a contender for Liverpool, we’re not so sure.
Clearly, Alonso should be the Reds’ top choice to succeed Klopp. If it isn’t possible to get the Spaniard though, it’s going to be interesting to see who jumps the queue.