Xabi Alonso is a firm favourite for Liverpool fans to succeed Jurgen Klopp but Ruben Amorim is a compelling option
Liverpool are searching for a worthy successor for Jurgen Klopp with Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim as top candidates. Both are having a fantastic season at their respective club currently, showcasing their potential to become world-class football managers.
Xabi is currently managing Leverkusen, the only club unbeaten in Europe and 10 points ahead of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. Decades of mockery have plagued Leverkusen fans, who have been unable to finish their story and secure the Bundesliga title.
The Spaniard arrived at the time when the German side slipped into the relegation zone last season. He guided the club to a respectable finish at sixth position, helping them qualify for this season’s Europa League.
Meanwhile, Amorim is currently guiding Sporting CP through an intense battle with Benfica to win his second Liga Portugal title. Verde e Broncos appointed Amorim as their manager during the 2019-20 season and he gradually helped them develop an identity.
The 39-year-old guided the Portuguese side to their first league title in 19 years during his second season there. He built a culture which promoted the development of young players and consistent challenge at the top of the league.
Fabrizio Romano told the Men In Blazer podcast that Liverpool have a concrete interest in Amorim. He said:
“Ruben Amorim is a concrete candidate for the Liverpool job. I think he is in position number two at this moment, from what I’m told. He also has a release clause in his new contract at Sporting.”
Potential successor of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool: Tactical prowess of Amorim vs the genius of Alonso
Both Amorim and Xabi deploy three-man defence and their style could look similar but there are vast differences in approaches. Amorim uses a 3-4-3 formation which can revert to 5-4-1 in defensive phases or 5-2-3 with a double-pivot of deep midfielders.
He applies conventional attacking wingbacks and they play a critical role in stretching opponents when the team have the possession. The three defenders are a pivotal part of distributing passes and building the play from the backline alongside two midfielders.
The attacking unit plays with fluidity, interchanging among themselves with two inside forwards and a lead striker. Defensively, the inside forwards drop wide while wingbacks drop deep to change the three-man defence to five-man defence.
Amorim applies specific counter-pressing instead of high-pressing philosophy that is parallel with Liverpool under Klopp. The Portuguese let the opposition control the play in their halves and tried to push them wide towards wingbacks.
On the other hand, Xabi’s style of play has more fluidity and tactical changes and he uses 3-4-2-1 dominantly. He allows his wingbacks to bomb forward and stretch the play while also letting them operate in an inverted role. Alex Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong have been instrumental in his philosophy and very prolific in front of goals.
Alonso uses double-pivots of number six and also two number 10s in the midfield, ahead of three defenders. The 42-year-old allows his number 10s to fall wide and act as an inside forward when wingbacks drop narrower.
The high fluidity makes them very unpredictable and dangerous in attack while they control possession in the defensive and middle third. Leverkusen changes their pace in the middle of the midfield to attack phases, using a very direct approach.
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Klopp is leaving a formidable squad and a culture that has allowed the Reds to develop young players from the academy. While Alonso’s philosophy and tactics match the requirements of Anfield and he already has a strong bond with the club and the Kopites, Amorim is a fantastic managerial option with potential of his own to become a world-class manager.
