Liverpool are taking their time over the decision to appoint Jurgen Klopp’s successor at the club.
With less than five weeks left of the domestic season, the Reds are still yet to make a final committment on who they want to follow Klopp.
As it’s such a big call – and there aren’t many candidates out there who fit the bill – no Liverpool fan will mind FSG taking their time with this one.
Just like we’ve already seen with Xabi Alonso, there’s also plenty of managers who simply won’t fancy joining the Reds right now. Yes, it’s a huge job with enormous prestige, but being the next act after Klopp may not appeal to many.
One who already aired this suggestion has been former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez. The Spaniard was one of a couple of voices who claimed that Alonso was not ready to take on such a mantle. And speaking to Sky Sports this week, Benitez has once again urged caution.
Rafa Benitez sends Liverpool warning
Benitez knows a thing or two about taking on the Liverpool job from a well-loved and successful manager.
Gerard Houllier may not have reached Klopp levels while he was at Anfield, but he wasn’t all that far behind. The Frenchman was universally recognised as someone who ‘got’ the club and won five major trophies across a six-year spell.
Following that – and coming fresh into the Premier League from Spain – was never going to be easy for Rafa in 2004. But he managed it and then some. So, when he speaks about what challenges the man following Jurgen will face, it’s wise to listen.
“It’s very difficult to replace someone like Klopp,” says the 64-year-old.
“Jurgen has done really well and then everybody’s expecting that the next manager has to win also like him. But you have to compete against top sides all the time, so I think it will be very difficult. Someone will do it and can do well, but it’s not easy.
“My experience is that when you go after a manger that has been successful, there are too many things that you don’t want to change but maybe you have to change to adapt to your mentality and style. This transition is always quite difficult.”
Who is in the running for Liverpool’s next manager
As things stand, it still looks likely that Liverpool’s next manager will be current Sporting boss Ruben Amorim.
The 39-year-old is reportedly yet to be in contact with the Reds but is said to be nailed on to get an interview at the very least.
Aside from Amorim, it’s still unclear who else could concretely be in the running. Plenty of names have been mentioned, with Niko Kovac the latest to have been spuriously put forward.
But Kovac has already ruled himself out. With Julian Nagelsmann set for Bayern Munich and Roberto De Zerbi seemingly out of the running, we just don’t know who else could be out there. Either way, Rafa’s expecting it to be tough gig. We better get a tough old manager in then.
