The 12 Managers Liverpool Looked At Before Choosing Arne Slot
Replacing Jürgen Klopp on the red side of Merseyside was always destined to be a monumental task. Yet Arne Slot — who became just the fifth manager to win the Premier League in his debut season — initially made the transition look seamless, wrapping up the title with four games to go. But the early excitement around his arrival has faded, and the former Feyenoord boss now finds himself under serious pressure.
Slot’s 50th Premier League match, which should have been a celebration, ended in a disappointing 3–0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. In total, he has overseen 75 matches across all competitions, earning an impressive 2.04 points per game. After Liverpool’s heavy £400 million summer investment in players like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, his job seemed unquestioned — but that is no longer the case. So who else could Liverpool have chosen? The Athletic reported in May 2024 that 12 alternative candidates were considered. Here’s where each of them ended up.
Xabi Alonso
For long stretches, it looked like the decision was between Slot and Xabi Alonso. After transforming Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso chose to stay for another year, ruling himself out. The following summer, he replaced Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid and has since recorded just two defeats in his first 17 matches.
Rúben Amorim
Amorim had just led Sporting CP to a second league title in four years and was firmly on Liverpool’s radar. However, doubts about his unwavering three-at-the-back system pushed the club away. Manchester United hired him in November 2024, and although he reached a Europa League final — losing 1-0 to Spurs — his Premier League start has been inconsistent, with his first consecutive wins only arriving in October 2025.
Roberto De Zerbi
De Zerbi’s name was discussed, but his lack of tactical flexibility raised issues for Liverpool. He left Brighton for Marseille in 2024, where he guided the French side to a runner-up finish in Ligue 1 behind PSG and has begun the new season strongly.
Julian Nagelsmann
Liverpool also considered Nagelsmann, but his dedication to three-at-the-back football caused hesitation. He was managing Germany at the time — and still is — as he prepares the national team for the 2026 World Cup.
Eddie Howe
Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes previously worked with Howe at Bournemouth, which made him a logical candidate. Newcastle kept hold of him, and he remains a key figure there. With a 1.76 points-per-game record over 191 matches, he also delivered the club’s 2024/25 Carabao Cup triumph, ending a 70-year trophy drought with a 2-0 win over Liverpool.
Andoni Iraola
Iraola struggled early at Bournemouth after arriving from Rayo Vallecano but quickly steadied the team. His strong connection to Inaki Ibanez — a figure Hughes knows well — put him on Liverpool’s radar. Bournemouth went on to finish 12th, then inside the top half, and are now chasing European qualification. He remains central to the club’s rise.
Sebastian Hoeness
Hoeness’s data metrics reportedly aligned closely with Klopp’s, making him an attractive option. He stayed with Stuttgart, where he continues to grow his reputation. Despite finishing ninth in 2024/25, Stuttgart are now pushing for a Champions League place.
Michel
Linked with replacing Pep Guardiola and heavily praised for leading Girona into the Champions League, Michel was also a Liverpool consideration. He stayed in Spain, but Girona narrowly avoided relegation the following season — a reminder of how volatile the club’s resources are. With Liverpool-level financial backing, his ceiling might have been far higher.
Simone Inzaghi
Fresh off reaching two Champions League finals in three seasons with Inter Milan, Inzaghi was one of the most in-demand managers in Europe. But Liverpool worried about his limited English. After missing out on the job, he accepted a move to Al-Hilal in 2025.
Paulo Fonseca
Fonseca, who has coached Porto, Milan, and Lille, was never a frontrunner but was evaluated. He was appointed AC Milan manager in 2024 but lasted only 24 matches, collecting a 1.75 PPG record. Now at Lyon, he recently received a nine-month ban after a confrontation with referee Benoit Millot.
Ernesto Valverde
Valverde, known for winning two La Liga titles with Barcelona, was unemployed at the time and viewed as a leading outside option. Despite fitting Liverpool’s criteria for bravery and experience, no move was made, and he remains out of work.
Luciano Spalletti
Spalletti, who guided Napoli to their first Scudetto since 1990, was managing Italy when Liverpool were searching for Klopp’s successor. He later resigned after 24 games in charge and took over Juventus, who currently sit seven points off the top of Serie A. His age — 65 — was not seen as a barrier during Liverpool’s discussions.
Liverpool’s 12 Managerial Options Before Appointing Slot
Manager Role at the Time Current Role
Xabi Alonso Bayer Leverkusen Real Madrid
Rúben Amorim Sporting CP Manchester United
Roberto De Zerbi Brighton Marseille
Julian Nagelsmann Germany Germany
Eddie Howe Newcastle Newcastle
Andoni Iraola Bournemouth Bournemouth
Sebastian Hoeness Stuttgart Stuttgart
Michel Girona Girona
Simone Inzaghi Inter Milan Al-Hilal
Paulo Fonseca AC Milan Lyon
Ernesto Valverde Unattached Unattached
Luciano Spalletti Italy Juventus