Three head coaches of some elite European clubs are expected to step down from their roles as managers at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp is one of the three managers who is expected to ride off into the sunset.
Klopp joined Liverpool on October 8, 2015, replacing Brendan Rogers due to poor performances exhibited by the Northern Irish International.
The German manager has since then penned down his name into the annals of Liverpool as one of their greatest managers, and has also left an indelible mark as one of the most successful and best football managers to ever grace the touchline; This is evident in his current reign at Liverpool as he has won every single trophy for the Merseyside reds, which includes the Premier league, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Community Shield, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
On January 26, 2024, Klopp informed the media that he would be leaving his role when the 2023/24 season comes to an end, claiming that he’s “running out of energy”.
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.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s manager, Xavi Hernández is also set to leave the Catalans at the end of the season due to subpar performances displayed by the Blaugranas.
The Spanish gaffer has recorded some underwhelming defeats in his time in charge, including a 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa final and a 4-2 defeat against Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
Xavi announced he will leave the club at the end of the season, after a 5-3 defeat to Villarreal on January 27,2024 at the Estadi Olimpic Lluís Companys.
I would like to announce that I will not remain Barça manager beyond the end of this season, Xavi said in a press conference.
I had decided to leave a few days ago, but I think now is the right time to announce it to help reduce the tension that exists around the club. A change of dynamic is needed.
So, as a Barça fan, thinking of the club’s best interests, and of the players, I think it’s the right decision. No one is bigger than the club and I am a supporter above all. I love this club. He added
However, Xavi managed to win the 2022/23 La Liga Santander and the Supercopa de Espana the same year.
In similar fashion, Bayern Munich’s manager Thomas Tuchel will relinquish his role as head coach at the end of the season.
Things haven’t gone on well for the German manager since he joined the team. He has faced series of setbacks, with Bayern Munich currently trailing behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen by 11 points, deepening his woes.
The Bavarians also lost 1-0 to Italian club Lazio in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash, mounting pressure on the coach as the club had no choice than to part ways with the German manager.
In a good, open discussion, we came to the decision to end our working relationship by mutual agreement in the summer, Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said in a statement.
Tuchel added: We have agreed that we will end our working relationship at the end of this season. Until then, I will of course continue to do everything I can with my coaching staff to achieve maximum success.
However this article seeks to highlight some of the top unemployed coaches Barcelona, Bayern and Liverpool could reach out to, as trying to secure an already appointed manager could be a tough row to hoe.
Xabi Alonso
Bayer Leverkusen’s manager Xabi Alonso stands a good chance of joining one of these three powerhouses as he is yet to taste defeat in any competition in the current 2023/24 season. The Spanish manager has also rewritten history by accelerating Bayer Leverkusen to become the first and only German club to go 33 games unbeaten in all competitions.
Zinedine Zidane
He maybe linked to Real Madrid, but he’s far-fetched from making a third return to Los Blancos as Carlo Ancelotti seems to be attaining success day in — day out.
One of the most promising and successful coaches, Zidane, has been off the managerial scene for a while since he left Madrid in 2021.
Zidane took the helm of Real Madrid in 2016 after coaching Real Madrid Castilla (Madrid team B) for two years.
He became the first coach to win the Champions League three times in a row, the UEFA Super Cup twice, the FIFA Club World Cup twice, La Liga and the Supercopa de España in his first two and a half seasons.
Zidane was crowned Best FIFA Men’s Coach in 2017 as a result of his achievements. After leaving the club in 2018, he rejoined in 2019 and won another La Liga and Supercopa de España title before departing once more in 2021.
According to reports circulating in Germany, Zidane has been considered as a possible replacement for Thomas Tuchel as Bayern Munich’s coach following Tuchel’s impending exit at the end of the current campaign.
Barcelona and Liverpool could also join the race to secure the French international’s signature as he seems to possess a lot of tactical prowess under his belt.
Antonio Conte
Known for his vehement style of celebration when his team scores, Barcelona, Bayern and Liverpool could reach out to the Italian gaffer to take over the affairs of their club next season.
His career as a manager commenced in 2006 when he guided Bari to victory in the Serie B championship. Two years later, he achieved promotion for Siena from the same division.
In 2011, he assumed leadership at Juventus, securing three consecutive Serie A titles. He then transitioned to managing the Italy national team in 2014, leading them to the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2016.
Following this, he took on the role of Chelsea manager, leading the team to a Premier League title in his inaugural season and securing the FA Cup in his second season, albeit being dismissed due to a fifth-place finish in the league.
Subsequently, he joined Inter Milan a year later, guiding them to the UEFA Europa League final in his first season and clinching the 2020–21 Serie A title in his second season before mutually agreeing to step down. He later joined Tottenham Hotspur in November 2021 but departed in March 2023, again through mutual agreement.
According to reports, Conte wants to replace Tuchel at Bayern Munich, with the Italian gaffer identifying them as his ‘dream club’ as he resumes managerial role.
Hansi Flick
One of the top notch current unemployed coaches Barcelona, Bayern and Liverpool could pursue.
Flick was sacked by Germany on 10 September 2023, a day after a 4–1 loss in a friendly against Japan, the team’s third defeat in a row; becoming the first manager of Germany to be sacked in the role’s history. Regardless of this, he’s one of the best football coaches, as he houses a number of accolades.
After rejoining Bayern Munich as an assistant coach in 2019, Flick assumed the role of interim manager following Niko Kovač’s departure in November of the same year.
Subsequently, he was appointed permanently and guided the team to victory in the UEFA Champions League that season, securing the club’s second continental treble. In 2021, he also steered the team to a FIFA Club World Cup triumph and another Bundesliga title.
Alongside Pep Guardiola, he is one of only two managers to achieve a sextuple with their team. Later in 2021, he succeeded Löw as the head coach of the German national team, leading them to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, he was relieved of his duties in 2023 following a series of disappointing results.
José Mourinho
He doesn’t need a lot of description to be identified in the football fraternity.
Dubbed “The Special One” by the British media, Mourinho is one of the most decorated managers ever and is widely considered to be among the greatest managers of all time. He may be old, but he seems not to run out of energy yet. He may be old, but he still seems to have a lot more to offer. His tactics may be “old-style” as the majority of football fans claim, but he’s got the experience.
According to reports, Mourinho is likely to join the Bavarians, but Barcelona and Liverpool could enter the race to sign the renowned and experienced Portuguese gaffer.
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Story by: Gabriel Tecco Mensah | univers.ug.edu.gh
