As much as I don’t want to, we must eventually put Kenny Dalglish’s departure behind us and begin the inevitable search for a new manager. With that in mind, here are the names already being touted as future bosses at Anfield.
Roberto Martinez
Seems the most likely to get the job, does the Wigan manager. His name’s been thrown around a lot with the vacant Aston Villa post, however he rejected it last season and one would expect him to reject it again if Liverpool came calling. Martinez is held in high regard by everyone at Wigan, none more so than his Chairman Dave Whelan, who suggested you “couldn’t find a better manager than Roberto”. However does he deserve to manage Liverpool? He took Swansea from League One promotion to 8th in the Championship within one season, before departing to Wigan. Since he’s taken over there, they’ve
finished 16th, 16th and 15th. Hardly a huge improvement considering the wraps on the man as a managerial mastermind.
Brendan Rodgers
From a former Swansea boss to a current Swansea boss, Brendan Rodgers has his Welsh side playing some wonderful football. For the squad he’s got, and the limited investments he’s had to improve it, Rodgers has done a great job. Taking over in July 2010, Rodgers led Swansea to promotion in his first season in charge. Once in the big time, Rodgers guided Swansea to an 11th place finish, the highest of the three promoted sides, playing some really nice, attractive football along the way. However he has been urged to remain at Swansea, with many claiming a move to a big side is still too early for him.
Rafa Benitez
Rafa’s name was thrown into the mix as soon as rumours circulated that Dalglish was on his way out. Obviously he knows the club, he knows how to win games and he knows how to get the side into the Champion’s League, but I still query whether appointing Benitez would be a step backwards for the club. By the end of the 2009-10 season, he simply had to go. Liverpool under Benitez were becoming too predictable, and as a result our performances began to slide. For me, if Benitez is appointed I’m not sure it would be a step in the right direction.
Andre Villas Boas
Guided Porto to an unbeaten 2010-11 season, where he won the league title and the Europa League, yet failed dismally at Chelsea. However I understood what he was trying to do at Stamford Bridge. I think he knew more than most that Chelsea’s older players would eventually decline, and attempted to implement fresh, young faces which could one day succeed them. Chelsea appointed a very raw, 33-year-old Villas Boas to bring in a new era at the club, however like Chelsea do, they got frustrated when he couldn’t do it overnight, and sacked him for Roberto Di Matteo. Sure, Chelsea may have done well under Di Matteo, who rejuvenated their older players like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, but one must ask how long that will remain, and then how long until they realise sacking Villas Boas may have been the wrong choice. In my opinion, Villas Boas wouldn’t be a bad choice as the next Liverpool manager.
Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool’s owners want improvement? Who better than Jurgen Klopp. The German took over Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in 2008, after their previous manager was sacked for a 13th place finish. In his first season in charge, Klopp brought Dortmund up the table to 6th, then to 5th, before winning the league title in 2010-11. Three seasons and he’d already transformed them from a struggling mid-table side to league champions. This season, Klopp’s Dortmund only got better, winning the league title again before defeating Bayern Munich 5-2 in the German Cup Final. It was Dortmund’s first ever domestic double in their 103 year history, and Klopp was the architect. If I was in charge, Klopp would definitely be the first name on my list.
Didier Deschamps
The Frenchman has a managerial CV full of success. He led Monaco to the Champion’s League Final in 2004, left for Juventus where he brought them back from Serie B with promotion in his first season, before going to Marseille in 2008. In the 2009-10 season he led them to the league title, as well as beginning a three year run of French Cup wins. Deschamps has the ability to manage Liverpool, however I don’t think he’d top the list of candidates just yet.
Whatever the decision, Liverpool’s owners need to act smart and fast. Our entire future could hinge on this summer, therefore the appointment of a manager is essential. However they must not rush their decision. We simply can’t have a repeat of the last few years. We need a manager who is willing to stay long term, and can begin improvements on this great club immediately. Four manager’s in two years is too many for the Liverpool Football Club. Thing’s must change.
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