Liverpool’s search for a new manager looks set to enter it’s fourth month over the next week or two.
Although plenty of managers have been linked with the soon-to-be vacant post at Anfield, the Reds are yet to settle on a firm candidate.
FSG will of course have a plan for things and nobody should be in a panic. But it would still be nice to know who’s going to be in charge next season. As the wait goes on, a breeding ground for all sorts of rumours continues to develop.
One of those suggestions has been that Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini could be in the frame to take over from Jurgen Klopp. Fresh off the back off thumping Liverpool last week, the Reds were told that they should consider hiring their conqueror.
However, although Gasperini has publicly welcomed the rumours, it has since been reported that the 66-year-old is not a contender. Despite that stance though, Liverpool could still end up hiring a manager who’s been heavily influence by the Italian.
Liverpool looking at Thiago Motta
To some Liverpool fans, it may seem redundant to consider other managers at this point. Ruben Amorim is quite clearly the obvious standout and seems almost destined for the job.
But didn’t we all feel the same way with Xabi Alonso? As Alonso proved, you never quite know what’s around the corner in football. It’s well worth looking further at all the names mentioned in connection to Liverpool.
One of those put forward as being under discussion at Anfield is Bologna boss Thiago Motta. Having hauled his team to fourth in the Serie A table in his second season in charge, Motta looks like a promising young coach.
And, when you look at the 41-year-old’s career, perhaps that’s no surprise. Just like Alonso, Motta spent pretty much all of his career at the top of the game.
After coming through at Barcelona, the Brazilian born Italian played for Inter, PSG and Atletico Madrid winning eight league titles and two Champions Leagues. But it was seemingly his spell outside of the elite – with Genoa in 2008/09 – that would have the biggest impact on his future coaching career.
It was at Genoa that Motta came across Gasperini. The coach was enjoying a great spell with the Grifoni, and the 08/09 season was the zenith. With Motta at the heart of the team, Genoa came fifth. Although the midfielder left for Inter after just one year, he and Gasperini reunited again at San Siro two years later. Those two spells made a big impression on Motta.
What has Thiago Motta said about Gasperini
Just because a player has worked under a coach, it doesn’t mean that they’ll take anything from them in a future role. But, tactically astute as he is, Motta couldn’t help but learn from Gasperini.
The two faced each other on the touchline just last month, with the Bologna boss lauding his former mentor.
“There is certainly some influence, especially as I had so many wonderful experiences with him in training and working methods, the strength he transmits to the squad every day,” Motta said via Football Italia. “I have only admiration for the consistency he’s had with Atalanta and I learned a great deal from him.”
After Liverpool’s schooling from Gasperini, it would make sense that they would look more closely at a manager who could mimic the Italian. Should they pursue their interest in Motta, they may be getting the next best thing.
