It has been a long old search for Liverpool to find the right manager to succeed Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds hadn’t expected to be in this position in 2024. With Klopp’s contract still set to run for another two years, they should have had time to monitor who should replace him.
But with the German announcing that his time at Anfield was up, FSG had to move their plans forward by a couple of years.
In the end, Arne Slot looks like being a very good choice to continue Klopp’s good work at the club.
However, had Jurgen left when he was scheduled to, you can’t help but feel Liverpool would have been better placed to hire a notable former player. Now, one old hero of the Liverpool squad is being tipped to take another job instead.
Fernando Torres backed for Atletico Madrid job
There are a number of former Liverpool players doing well in their first forays in management.
The obvious leader in this pack is Xabi Alonso, who is just coming off the back of an unbeaten league and cup double with Bayer Leverkusen. Astonishing.
Alonso isn’t the only one on the radar, though. Dirk Kuyt has just got Beerschot promoted to the Belgian first division, while Fernando Torres has won two trophies with Atletico Madrid’s U19s.
And it’s Torres who appears to be making the most waves as an underage coach. According to Spanish outlet AS, the 40-year-old has marked himself out as a coach to watch.
Indeed, Torres has done so well in his three years with Atletico’s youth team that it’s claimed ‘no one doubts’ that the former striker will be managing the club’s senior team in the future.
Torres’ success is said to have come as a surprise. Even those ‘closest to him’ were reportedly expecting that his future lay at boardroom level with Atletico. But having done so well, he looks well placed to take over when Diego Simeone finally calls it a day.
What about Fernando Torres and Liverpool?
If Torres gets to the level where he’s being considered for the Atletico Madrid post, then Liverpool should be keeping an eye on him.
The World Cup winner certainly has some unfinished business at Anfield and gave an interesting answer when recently asked if he’d like to manage the Reds one day.
READ MORE: Liverpool fans should be keeping an eye on Fernando Torres’ progress
Obviously, that would be some years in the future. We’re hoping that Slot can lead Liverpool to success for a while beforehand.
But when the time comes that the Reds are looking for another manager, it might well be that Torres’ name is under serious consideration.
For now, he’s set to take the next step and work with Atletico’s B team from next season. As Alonso showed with Real Sociedad, it’s only a short stop from there to the senior game.