Liverpool’s search to find the right successor to Jurgen Klopp is getting towards the business end.
Almost two months on from when Klopp shocked the football world and announced his departure, the Reds are still yet to formalise who will follow him.
Plenty of names have been mentioned, but there’s clearly one who stands out above all: Xabi Alonso. Enjoying an unbelievable season with Bayer Leverkusen, the 42-year-old ticks just about every box.
But Alonso’s capture is still very much in the balance. As a result, others continue to be considered. And according to former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt, Xabi isn’t the only one of his old Reds teammates who would do well in the Anfield dugout.
What has Dirk Kuyt claimed
Kuyt is set to feature in the LFC Legends charity game against Ajax Legends at Anfield tomorrow afternoon. Alonso has also taken part in such events in the past, but is otherwise occupied this time around.
Nevertheless, Dirk has been speaking to the Liverpool ECHO ahead of Saturday’s match. And given the circumstances, there’s one topic that everyone wants to discuss.
“You could see from a distance [Alonso would be] a manager one day,” said the Dutchman, before also putting forward another name, one with slightly less traction.
“For me it would be amazing if one of my former team-mates like Xabi or maybe Steven [Gerrard] in the future will become a manager of Liverpool FC,” Kuyt professed. “That would be amazing and I think both will do well.
“Obviously you see Stevie is now a little further from the job but he also has experience with Glasgow Rangers and then Aston Villa.
“He is now maybe in a place where people don’t like him to be but he is still doing the job and getting experience and that is how you become a better manager in my opinion.”
Is Steven Gerrard in the running for Liverpool
Not all that long ago, there would absolutely no resistance at all to Kuyt’s claim that Gerrard could be an ideal manager for Liverpool.
The 43-year-old did indeed do a very good job at Rangers, winning them a league title in an invincible season. Gerrard also picked up consistently good results in Europe before moving to Aston Villa.
But the former Liverpool captain’s time at Villa Park probably ruled him out of ever succeeding Klopp. If that wasn’t enough, then taking a job in the lowly Saudi Pro League was the final nail in the coffin.
Still, Stevie does retain support in certain areas. Another former teammate, Luis Garcia, actually claimed that Gerrard would be a better choice than Alonso right now.
The Scouser has also been suggested as being the ideal assistant to Xabi should he eventually get the gig.
While, like Kuyt, we’d love to see that happen, it just doesn’t seem to be on the table right now. Unless something surprising happens between now and May, we think Stevie’s staying in Saudi.