source: X
With the January transfer window soon to 'slam shut' as deadline day approaches,
football fans in the English Premier League are already gearing up for a bit of a more
lively than usual second half of the season, and summer, when it comes to
the
managerial merry go round.
A number of clubs in the bottom half of the top flight table are already facing calls from
the fans to make a board room decision on their current incumbent, and if their form
does not quickly change as we begin to move slowly through the month of February,
those shouts from the stands will only intensify.
This year though, we already know of one guaranteed change, as Liverpool manager
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed he will be standing down at the end of this season. That
announcement has already set tongues wagging on the gaffer rumour mill given the
Anfield outfit will now already be assessing preferred replacements. Arsenal's Mikel
Arteta is also said to be weighing up his own future in light of some of the speculation
flying around - namely potential links with Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona - so for
those who like to check the odds and see what the bookies are predicting, you can
see
online sports betting at Casumo. No doubt there will be much debate, a plethora of
potential odds and offers during the course of the next few months.
There are obviously a number of potential future decisions that will remain up in the air
until we move somewhat closer to the end of the 2023/24 campaign, but that certainly
will not stop the speculation, and the battle for Liverpool's soon to be vacant hot seat is
likely to be one of the most interesting to follow, even for football neutrals.
Arteta himself is said to already feature on the Liverpool's boards initial preferred short
list, but as the weekend progressed, Xabi Alonso was also being very heavily linked with
the job.
The 42 year old former 114 capped successful Spanish international took an earlier than
usual step into the world of management, and having learnt the ropes with former club
Real Madrid's youth side, he returned to Real Sociedad's B squad where he initially
made his breakthrough, but as manager in 2019 - staying with them until he landed the
Bayer Leverkusen job in 2022.
After a storied playing career winning titles, Cups and European silverware with
Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, his spell so far in the Bundesliga has also
seen good success and built on his earlier promise.
In his second season at the Segunda Division B side, he took Real's B side to promotion
and a return back to the Segunda Division proper for the first time since 1961/62. In his
move to the German top flight league, Bayer were second from bottom in their opening
eight games, yet he still took them to the semi finals of the Europa League - losing out to
Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid side by a single first leg goal. They finished in sixth place,
securing Europe after 26 more games were played.
He tasted further European success with his run in his second season, and with an
emphasis on counter attack, the opening eleven league games saw them only concede
five times, and out of their opening 13 games they were unbeaten, with only Borussia
Dortmund and Bayern Munich holding them to draws.
The 2023/24 campaign is also going well, their 12 game effort at the start of the season
equalled Bayern Munich's set record of eleven wins and one draw going back to the
2015/16 season, and as I type they are two points clear at the top of the Bundesliga
table, and they remain unbeaten.
With past ties to Anfield, it is very understandable as to why Liverpool might be
interested in his credentials given they have now been forced into looking for a
replacement for Klopp. They are not the only potential suitor though, with some doubts
surrounding Pep Guardiola's future at Manchester City, an educated guess says they will
be keeping themselves apprised of developments, and after his Bundesliga battles with
Bayern Munich (as a former as well with good ties as well) they are also being linked
with having an interest - as are Real Madrid.
Where
Alonso may end up next season is still wide open for debate, he is under contract
until the summer of 2026 as it is, and there are certainly no done deals yet despite the
largely miserly odds most bookmakers have on his future which suggest it is.
For those Liverpool fans who have maybe got a little bit excited about the Alonso links
given his promise so far, but are worried by the two and a half year contracts that
remains, money always talks if there is an interest. But it is also a widely held belief - not
least the clubs public comments - that Alonso knows they would never stand in his way if
one of the elite European clubs came knocking at their door.
A fact maybe reflected in the fact he never insisted on a buy out clause in his contracts
with them, he was happy to take their word on faith. With his managerial aspirations
showing themselves well back into his playing days, and in some ways his playing
decisions being formed by a desire to work with some of the brightest and best so he
could learn.
His own dugout dreams could be on the verge of coming true.
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Jürgen Klopp
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Xabi Alonso