8 Sept 2015

Rodgers Out? 'World-class' boss now 9/4 favourite to be Liverpool's next manager after new comments

In June, Jurgen Klopp's agent revealed that the coveted boss wants to manage a team in the 'exciting' Premier, and confirmed that Champions League participation is not a pre-requisite when it comes to choosing his next team. With Brendan Rodgers already under pressure this season, Klopp has popped up from his self-imposed exile to reiterate his desire to return to management, and according to UK Bookmakers, the German is odd-son favourite to take over at Anfield.

Speaking at the International Radio Exhibition (IFA) in Berlin, Klopp - hailed buy Ilkay Gindogan as a 'world-class' manager - told the assembled media:

"I’ll be back to train a team. It doesn't have to be an absolute top club. There are other good projects that are exciting, [teams] who need help".

Klopp's comments fit the narrative he has created over the last few months. Speaking to German football website SPOX in June, his agent, Marc Kosicke confirmed that Klopp is:

* Willing to work with a Director of football. Kosicke explained: "In Germany there is a clear separation between manager and sporting director. Jurgen does not like to speak to players’ agents"

* Happy to take on a team that's NOT in the Champions League. According to Kosicke: “It's about the challenge. When Jurgen signed for Dortmund there were other clubs who had better prestige [and] finances. He has the great ability to develop things. If he thinks that he can make a difference, this is more attractive than going with the big deals"

Reading between the lines, it's blatantly obvious (to me) that Klopp wanted the Liverpool job back in June.

His agent's comments were an obvious and very transparent 'come and get me' plea directed at the club as part of a calculated strategy (probably endorsed by Klopp) to entice FSG into making the German manager an offer.


That obviously didn't happen, but with Liverpool already struggling this season, the German's shadow continues to loom large over Anfield, and if Liverpool lose to Manchester United on Saturday, the calls for Rodgers' removal will reach fever pitch once again.

This week, Klopp has shot up to 9/4 favourite to replace Rodgers, and it seems like he'd be a popular choice amongst the fanbase. Indeed, a recent poll on the site delivered an emphatic vote of confidence in favour of the German:



I have nothing against Rodgers personally - it's purely about football, and over the last three years, he's proven that he just doesn't have what it takes to maintain a consistent title challenge and/or top four status.

Conversely, Klopp - who called Liverpool a 'great club' last season - is a proven winner, and like Rafa Benitez, he has a history of breaking a dominant club's stranglehold on the league.

For many fans, Reds legend Steven Nicol summed it up perfectly on ESPN in April:

"If I'm the owner, and a guy like Jurgen Klopp is available, I'm going for Klopp. They've already given him [Rodgers] a lot of money. You put the two resumes together and there's only one winner"

Amen to that.

Author: Jaimie K


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