Liverpool next manager odds: Xabi Alonso favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 29 Jan 2024 20:06 GMT
• 4 min read

Xabi Alonso is the current favourite with the bookmakers to become the next permanent manager of Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp has announced that he will be leaving Anfield at the end of the current season after eight-and-a-half years in charge, and the hunt for his successor is now on.

Klopp reportedly informed the Liverpool board of his decision in November, although he didn't release a public statement until 26 January.

However, it is now known that Klopp will not be Liverpool's manager for the 2024-25 season, with the Reds forced to appoint a new manager for the first time since 2015.

The club's most recent head coach before Klopp was Brendan Rodgers, who sacked in October 2015 after a poor start to that campaign.

According to the bookies, Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is the current favourite to replace Klopp in the Liverpool dugout.

The Spaniard is one of the most exciting young managers in world football and he spent five years at Anfield as a player, winning the Champions League with the club in 2005.

Alonso has a history with Liverpool, which automatically makes him a more likely candidate, while he is an outstanding manager in his own right.

Alonso is one of the very best managers in the world right now and Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to extend his stay as Real Madrid manager means a move to Liverpool is deemed to be the logical next step if he decides to leave Leverkusen.

He is currently priced at 1/1 to become the next Liverpool manager, as per Oddschecker, with several bookies offering a far lower price.

Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi is the second favourite to replace Klopp (8/1) after his brilliant start to life in the Premier League. He was also linked with the Chelsea job before Mauricio Pochettino and has previously been tipped to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Klopp’s long-term assistant manager Pep Lijnders is the third favourite to replace him at Anfield (10/1), while Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim is fourth (14/1).

Julian Nagelsmann only became Germany's national team head coach in 2023, but he is the fifth favourite to succeed his compatriot Klopp at Liverpool.

His last job in club management was at Bayern Munich, but he was sacked by the Bundesliga giants during the 2022-23 season, with Thomas Tuchel replacing him at the helm.

Unai Emery, Zinedine Zidane and Steven Gerrard are all priced at 20/1 to replace Klopp, while Benfica's Roger Schmidt and RB Leipzig's Marco Rose complete the top 10.

Who is the favourite to become the next Liverpool manager?