6 Potential Successors If Liverpool Should Sack Brendan Rodgers
Reports on Tuesday claim that Brendan Rodgers' job as Liverpool boss is not under review following the club's sixth-place Premier League finish this season.
Merseyside reporters such as Paul Joyce of the Express claim that Rodgers will meet with Michael Gordon, Liverpool director and Fenway Sports Group investor, to discuss the failings of 2014/15, but that his job is not in jeopardy.
It's somewhat bewildering to think that a manager can miss out on all three of the season's objectives (a top-four finish, winning a trophy and progressing in the Champions League) plus win just eight points from the final nine games of the campaign—losing the final two by a combined score of 9-2 to mid-table opposition—and still not see his position under threat.
Whether these reports are to be believed, then, is open to question.
Joyce writes, "The outcome of those talks, in particular Rodgers' attitude in them, will determine whether that alters and his future becomes an issue." So it's not quite as clear-cut as the headlines suggest, even somewhat contradictory.
Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph is similarly contradictory: "Anfield officials have indicated Rodgers' position is unchanged regardless of the severity of a 6-1 defeat on the final day of the Premier League campaign. ... It remains to be seen whether Liverpool's steadfast defence of Rodgers extends beyond his meeting with Gordon."
FSG cannot afford another season of such mediocrity and with several high-profile managers available this summer who would perhaps be able to attract a higher calibre of player, a coaching change is an opportunity that shouldn't be missed.
Here are six candidates for the job should Rodgers receive his P45 following these talks.
Jurgen Klopp
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The name on every Liverpool supporter's lips is Jurgen Klopp, and the argument for wanting him to join the Reds is fairly convincing.
A poll on the Liverpool supporters website This Is Anfield has Klopp with a huge 75 percent majority (from over 14,000 votes) from five options given as potential successors to Rodgers.
The German is available, of course, due to his leaving Borussia Dortmund this summer, and the similarities between his soon-to-be former club and Liverpool are clear to see.
Klopp worked wonders with Dortmund without a big budget, taking them to domestic and European success. He would certainly be the correct character to appeal to Liverpool's supporters and could get the best from the young squad.
There may be talk of Klopp taking a sabbatical, as noted by Bild (via the Daily Mail), but that report contrasts to what Klopp himself said just last month.
Frank De Boer
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Dutchman Frank de Boer himself claims he previously held talks with Liverpool over the manager's job, after Kenny Dalglish was sacked three years ago.
The 45-year-old instead signed a new deal at Ajax, where he has won four league titles.
Speaking earlier this year, de Boer said he could see himself managing either Tottenham or Liverpool, per BBC Sport.
He likely sees now as an ideal time to leave Ajax, having taken the club as far as he can.
Carlo Ancelotti
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Carlo Ancelotti would certainly be the calibre of manager supporters are looking for, but he seems like an unrealistic option.
Still, the fact remains that he is available, and if Liverpool wanted to show any ambition they would surely, at the very least, ask the Italian.
Could it be that Ancelotti is somewhat of a Liverpool fan, too? These quotes from the Metro suggest so:
"I’ve followed Liverpool since 1984 after facing them with Roma in the European Cup Final, when we lost on penalties.
It’s always been a club that excites me. The “You’ll Never Walk Alone” they sing is incredible. Nobody sings an anthem like Liverpool fans.
Tomorrow, before the game, I’m going to go out onto the pitch early because I want to hear them sing it.
I’m so excited… sometimes I look for it on the internet and put it on for my friends. It’s something really unique, seriously.
I remember when we played them in Istanbul [in the Champions League Final] and we were winning 3-0 at the break.
There were 45,000 Liverpool fans in the ground singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” for 10 minutes. It was incredible and for an Italian it was a shock.
"
But would Ancelotti come to a club without a big budget and not in the Champions League? Unlikely.
Rudi Garcia
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Rudi Garcia has just guided AS Roma to a place in next season's Champions League and perhaps FSG would see him as the man to do so at Anfield.
The Frenchman was also successful with Lille, with whom he won French manager of the Year three times, including the Ligue 1 title in 2011.
Like most of the candidates in this shortlist, Garcia has more experience and pedigree in Europe than Rodgers, who was appointed after just one season's experience in the top flight.
Rafa Benitez
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A return to Liverpool for Rafa Benitez would be an emotional one but the Spaniard looks set to be appointed Real Madrid boss to replace Ancelotti (per BBC Sport).
That does, of course, raise the question of how the Spaniard is deemed good enough for the 10-time European champions but not by some at Liverpool.
There's a sense of unfinished business for Rafa and he still clearly loves the club and the city.
Garry Monk
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Lastly, FSG could do something very similar to what they did when they appointed Rodgers three years ago and recruit a young manager from Swansea City.
Garry Monk has rightly earned praise for how he's guided the Welsh club to a record Premier League points total in his first full season in charge at the age of just 36.
He seems be calm, levelheaded and not egotistical. But could he make the step up to managing Liverpool?
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