Succeeding Jurgen Klopp on the red half of Merseyside was never going to be simple, was it? Arne Slot – becoming just the fifth manager to win the Premier League title in their debut campaign – made it look so after winning the title with four matches to spare. The gloss of fresh stewardship has since worn off, and it's not unfair to say the Dutchman, who moved from Feyenoord in the summer of 2024, is now walking on a tightrope.
In what was supposed to be a memorable occasion for Slot, he recently oversaw his 50th Premier League match in charge of Liverpool – and it resulted in a 3-0 loss at the hands of Nottingham Forest. At the time of writing, he has taken charge of 75 matches in all competitions and a 2.04 points per match ratio has proved how brilliant he is.
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At the start of the season, following a fruitful summer of spending north of £400 million on the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, there were very few concerns over Slot's position at Anfield. That's no longer the case, but what other direction was on the table for Liverpool? According to a report from The Athletic – which was written in May 2024 – there were 12 names on their radar. But what are they all up to nowadays?
Xabi Alonso
Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso reacts
At times, it seemed like it was only Slot and Xabi Alonso – who is now in charge of Kylian Mbappe-led Real Madrid – were in the offing to be Klopp's successor at Liverpool. Credited with changing the fortunes of Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, the midfielder-turned-boss committed a further year in Germany in the summer Klopp left.
That, ultimately, ruled him out of the running – and it was the following summer when Alonso, widely regarded as one of the best young managers in world football, moved onto pastures new to succeed Carlo Ancelotti in the Spanish capital. As things stand, the 43-year-old has suffered just two losses in his opening 17 matches.
Ruben Amorim
ruben amorim-1
Ruben Amorim had just guided his former side, Sporting CP, to their second Primeira Liga title in four seasons was also of interest to the Reds – but there were concerns surrounding his set-in-stone affinity to his three-at-the-back system, which is something that has annoyed those of a Manchester United persuasion since his arrival in November 2024.
The Portuguese tactician replaced Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford and led them to a Europa League final, one they lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in May, but it's been a rather hodgepodge start to life for the 40-year-old – who only managed to win back-to-back games in the Premier League in mid-October 2025.
Roberto De Zerbi
roberto de zerbi
Similarly to the aforementioned Amorim, there were issues raised over the tactical flexibility of Roberto De Zerbi, who made a name for himself after his managerial spell at Brighton & Hove Albion. The Athletic reported that De Zerbi was not near the summit of their shortlist – but he was a theoretical option as they looked for an experienced manager.
Instead of moving to Anfield, the Italian left the side from the coast after 89 matches and joined Olympique Marseille in France in the summer of 2024. Behind only Paris Saint-Germain, Les Phoceens were runners-up in the 2024/25 Ligue 1 campaign, and they've started this season just as brightly.
Julian Nagelsmann
julian naglesmann
For the third shortlisted manager on the bounce, the Premier League side reportedly held their reservations over the appointment of 38-year-old Julian Nagelsmann given that he was glued to a three-at-the-back formation. At the time, he was in charge of the German national team – and that is still the case to the present day.
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Nagelsmann has endured stints in club management before (with the likes of Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich between 2016 and 2021) and would've been a terrific appointment for Liverpool. But, for the time being, all focus is on guiding Die Mannschaft to 2026. World Cup glory in North America next summer.
Eddie Howe
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe after losing to West Ham United.
Credited with Bournemouth's stratospheric rise from League Two to the Premier League, Eddie Howe – who moved to Newcastle United in late 2021 – was of interest because he had worked under Liverpool Sporting Director, Richard Hughes, before while in the Cherries dugout. Those of a St James' Park persuasion, however, will be glad they held onto the Englishman given how influential he is on Tyneside.
Still at the helm of Newcastle, Howe has accrued a points per match of 1.76 in his 191-match tenure and, statistics aside, he managed to guide the Saudi-backed club to glory in 2024/25 by beating Liverpool 2-0 in the Carabao Cup. They, as a result, put an end to their 70-year wait for silverware and that, in itself, is statue-worthy to many associated with the Magpies.
Andoni Iraola
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola watching on from the touchline
Andoni Iraola's start at Bournemouth was nothing short of shaky – but it didn't take long for the Spaniard, who joined from Rayo Vallecano in the summer of 2023, to steady the ship and start picking off some of the best teams in the Premier League. Hughes, incidentally, also boasts a strong relationship with Iraola's Inaki Ibanez, which brought some eyes onto him being linked with the Anfield post.
Against all odds, Iraola's Bournemouth finished 12th in his debut campaign in England's top tier. Against all odds, a top-half finish then followed for the Cherries and, in 2025/26, they are looking to secure a spot in European competition. In truth, Iraola is front and centre of everything brilliant at the Vitality Stadium.
Sebastian Hoeness
Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness
VfB Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness – whose data scores were closely aligned with Klopp’s, and who had many admirers at Liverpool, according to The Athletic – was also among the 12 names that were considered before Slot was appointed to take over from the German tactician. Munich-born Hoeness, however, stayed in his homeland.
Since Liverpool snubbed the chance to appoint the 43-year-old, he's been linked with a number of top managerial jobs in Europe (including being the Amorim replacement at Old Trafford). And, despite Stuttgart finishing ninth in the 2024/25 Bundesliga table, his links prove how highly-rated he is in the football sphere. Alongside that, his side are approaching the top four this season.
Michel
michel girona
Tipped to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in September 2024, Girona tactician Michel was among the potential Klopp replacements just months earlier – but he stayed in Spain on the back of a spectacular season with the La Liga side as they finished third. Things didn't go so swimmingly in 2024/25 as they finished just above the relegation zone.
That could prove that not appointing Michel could've been a close shave – but that's not to say he's a bad manager at all. In fact, nobody foresaw his Girona side qualifying for the Champions League two seasons ago, and their subsequent downfall can be attributed to the shoestring budget he's been restricted to work within. Imagine what he could've done with Liverpool's war chest.
Simone Inzaghi
Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi gesticulating on the touchline
Former Inter Milan statesman Simone Inzaghi was among the most sought-after managers in world football after he took the Italian side to two Champions League finals in three years, but instead of staying in Europe, he moved to Saudi Arabia to see over Al-Hilal's development in the summer of 2025 after being snubbed for the Liverpool job the summer before.
Inzaghi, 49, remains one of the most well-respected bosses in the managerial echo chamber – but why were Liverpool tentative about moving in for the Italian? Well, The Athletic reported that his lack of English was potentially problematic given how integral communication is when managers are relaying information to their teams.
Paulo Fonseca
paulo fonseca
Although the report claimed that Olympique Lyonnais boss Paulo Fonseca – who has enjoyed stints across Europe with FC Porto, AC Milan and Lille – was never seriously in the frame, it would be remiss to suggest that he wasn't considered for Anfield chiefs. The 52-year-old's managerial venture has since taken him on a journey since.
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In the summer of 2024, he joined AC Milan but lasted just 24 matches – a tenure which saw him accrue a points per match ratio of 1.75 – in the Italian capital. He's since moved to Lyon and was slapped with a nine-month football ban earlier this year for his furious outburst towards referee Benoit Millot. The French side are seventh in the Ligue 1 table.
Ernesto Valverde
Athletic Bilbao head coach Ernesto Valverde watching on from the touchline
Fondly remembered for his 145-match stint with Barcelona, Ernesto Valverde was also under consideration by Liverpool boardroom bosses in the summer of 2024 – and an attempt to appoint him would've been relatively simple given he was (and remains, to this day) out of work. So much so that he was named as a 'leading contender' by The Athletic.
During his stint in Spain, he won two league titles with Barcelona and, before that, he was touted after winning three championships with Olympiacos in Greece. The report stated that he fit straight into the 'brave' criteria laid out by Hughes and Michael Edwards, but an approach for the veteran, who had recently ended Atheltic Bilbao's 40-year drought without silverware, never came to fruition.
Luciano Spalletti
luciano spalletti
Now in charge of Juventus, Luciano Spalletti – whose longest managerial stint, equating to 224 matches, came for AS Roma – was also of significant interest to the Reds as he had proved his expertise by guiding Napoli to their first Serie A triumph since 1990. At the time when Liverpool were changing managers, he was in charge of Italy.
After 24 outings – which resulted in 12 wins, six draws and six losses – Spalletti left his position in international management and returned to club football. Given that he was 65 at the time of Liverpool's interest suggested that age was not a major factor in their manager search. At the time of writing, Spalletti's Juventus side are seven points behind the table toppers.
12 Managers Who Liverpool Considered Pre-Arne Slot
Manager
Xabi Alonso
Ruben Amorim
Roberto De Zerbi
Julain Nagelsmann
Eddie Howe
Andoni Iraola
Sebastian Hoeness
Michel
Simone Inzaghi
Paulo Fonseca
Ernesto Valverede
Luciano Spalletti
All statistics per Transfermarkt – correct as of 24/11/2025