Next Liverpool manager odds: Xabi Alonso favourite after bombshell Jurgen Klopp announcement

The German arrived at Anfield in October 2015 and went on to claim almost every major honour during his near-decade in charge.

Klopp led the club to Champions League glory in 2019 and followed it up with an elusive Premier League crown a year later.

The Reds are currently sitting top of the table and are still on track for an unprecedented quadruple.

Despite this, Klopp has decided to step away at the end of the campaign, saying: "I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. 

“I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.

"It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now.

“I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.

"After the years we had together and after all the time we spent together and after all the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least I owe you is the truth - and that is the truth."

 

Who will be the next Liverpool manager?

Xabi Alonso is the odds-on favourite to take over at Anfield. As a player, the Spaniard made 210 appearances for the club and went on to win the FA Cup, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup.

The 42-year-old is currently in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, with the team sitting top of the Bundelsiga.

Leverkusen are yet to taste defeat in the league and are well on course to ending Bayern Munich’s stranglehold on the Meisterschale.

Roberto De Zerbi is another top contender. The Brighton boss has taken his personal stock to a new level after leading the Seagulls to a sixth-placed finish last season.

 

 

Ex-Liverpool man Adam Lallana recently praised the Italian for his meticulous preparation and unrivalled dedication to his craft.

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard also features prominently on the odds list. The former Reds captain endured a disappointing managerial spell with Aston Villa and is continuing to struggle over in Saudi Arabia. 

Current Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann is another possible successor. Question is, would the 36-year-old leave his post with a home European Championship just around the corner? Perhaps not.

Jose Mourinho, who was recently sacked by AS Roma, is a big outsider for the role.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise considering his previous roles were with Liverpool’s two major rivals in Manchester United and Chelsea.

Find the full next Liverpool market on Planet Sport Bet