Alonso stays put, is Amorim the answer for Liverpool?
Xabi Alonso has thrown a spanner in the works for Liverpool, as he announces he will stay at German club Bayer Leverkusen for at least next season. The Spaniard’s decision ends the idea of romantic reunion on Merseyside for now and leaves the Reds still hunting for Jurgen Klopp’s successor.
Ruben Amorim
According to reports, the new frontrunner is Sporting Lisbon’s Manager, Ruben Amorim, with some sources stating an agreement has already been agreed in principle, although Amorim himself has denied this.
Sporting are currently in title run-in, and Amorim does not want any distractions.
There's been no interview with any club, no agreement with any club," said Amorim. "This is the last time I'm going to talk about my future."
He added: "The only thing we all want is to be champions with Sporting. Nothing will change." (via BBC Sport)
39-year-old Amorim is a former Benfica and Portugal midfielder, he retired in 2018 and made the foray into management. Beginning his new career with Braga’s B team, he impressed, replacing first team coach Ricardo Sa Pinto within three months. At Braga, Amorim would lose just two games, winning a domestic cup along the way.
In 2019, Sporting paid 20 million Euros to secure the young managers services, handing him a four-year contract. Within his first year, he brought back a signature identity the club had lacked, leading them to a fourth-place finish, qualifying for the Europa League.
In 2020-21, Amorim would lead Sporting to their first league title in 19 years, a second consecutive domestic cup, including a 32-match unbeaten streak. Understandably, he was named Primeira Liga’s Manager of the Year. The club’s success would continue, winning a third domestic cup and reaching the last-16 in the Champions League. 2022-23 was a disappointing year, but Sporting look set to win the title in 2023-24.
Amorim’s management is know for tactical flexibility, with his team’s formation being able to change seamlessly throughout a game. Often playing a 3-4-3, but being able to move into a 4-3-3, wingbacks are used to spread play and distract the opposition, with a striker tasked with pressing and three mobile defenders linking with a fluid defensive midfielder.
The Portuguese’s play style would suit Liverpool’s current personnel, with minimal addition needed. Amorin is also known for his laid-back attitude in the media, along with often refraining from making comment on referee’s, something that will help him with the state of the Premier League’s current officiating.
Roberto De Zerbi
The current Brighton Manager has many suitors, Liverpool being one of them, could the Italian be the right fit on Merseyside?
Roberto De Zerbi has been hugely successful on the south coast, taking over a young squad and guiding them to a new height, within the league and Europe.
Growing his name in his native Italy with Sassuolo, giving the side a notable style, whilst utilising current assets and overachieving with results. Within De Zerbi’s three seasons at Sassuolo, he led them to two eighth placed finishes in Serie A, losing out on European qualification by only goal difference in 2020-21. In 2021, the Italian moved to Shakhtar Donetsk, winning the Ukrainian Super Cup, and leading the side to the top of the division, before leaving due to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.
Succeeding Graham Potter, not only has De Zerbi led Brighton into Europe, but he has taken them to an FA Cup semi-final, whilst the club has recorded record profits. The Italian favours possession-based football, focusing heavily on build up play, right from the goalkeeper all the way to the forward players. Favouring a double pivot, De Zerbi often uses a 4-2-3-1 system, aggressively pressing off the ball.
Though styles differ, De Zerbi’s style could be easily implemented at Liverpool, with the team already use to aggressive pressuring and utilising the double pivot when required, alongside the fact that midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has played under De Zerbi.
Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel is arguably a wildcard, but he’s the name out there with the, most pedigree for the Liverpool job.
Taking over from Klopp at Mainz, before then replacing the German once again at Borussia Dortmund, Tuchel is no stranger to his outgoing counterpart on Merseyside.
Having found success at Dortmund, being runner up in the Bundesliga and adding a DFB Pokal to his CV, Tuchel was brought in to steer the ship at the heavy spending PSG in France. Though he failed to truly win over the Paris faithful, he guided the Parisians to three straight league titles, one domestic quadruple season and Champions League final, where they would fall short to German giants Bayern Munich.
Following the German’s departure from Paris, he was snapped up by Chelsea on an 18-month contract, again into the fire of a cutthroat ownership model. Tuchel guided the Blues to a FA Cup final in his first year in London, also rewriting his European demons, winning the Champions League with a 1-0 win over fellow Premier League side, Manchester City. The following year, the 50-year-old won the Club World Cup and made it to a second consecutive FA Cup Final, only to lose once again. Following sanctions placed on owner Roman Abramovich, the club was sold to US Billionaire Todd Boehly, thus leading to a breakdown in communications, and in the end results. Tuchel would depart in the 2022-23 season.
Within weeks of leaving London, Tuchel was appointed at Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga in his first season, but, in the following year results would falter and it was agreed he would leave at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Tuchel would bring a wealth of experience to Liverpool, and several tactics which match those of Klopp including gegenpressing. What differs, is that Tuchel prefers possessional control, and the use of wingbacks. Despite this, the Germans team are always fluid and flexible, with him having used a 4-3-3 in the past that would suit the Reds current squad.
Tuchel would not be the favoured option for the Liverpool faithful, but he would be someone with experience at the top and pedigree to match the size if the club.
Amorim clearly leads the line, but the options for the six-time European Champions are wide open.
