The 12 Managers Liverpool Looked At Before Choosing Arne Slot
Taking over from Jürgen Klopp on the red side of Merseyside was always going to be an immense challenge. Yet Arne Slot initially made it look effortless. By becoming only the fifth manager to win the Premier League in his first season, and doing so with four games remaining, the Dutchman appeared to have ushered in a seamless new era at Anfield.
That early sheen has since faded. Slot, who arrived from Feyenoord in the summer of 2024, now finds himself under growing scrutiny. What once felt like a smooth transition has turned into a precarious balancing act.
A landmark moment recently arrived with Slot overseeing his 50th Premier League match as Liverpool manager, but it proved one to forget. A heavy 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest overshadowed the occasion. Overall, Slot has now taken charge of 88 matches in all competitions, recording a respectable 2.01 points per game.
At the beginning of the season, following a summer outlay exceeding £400 million on high-profile names such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, there was little doubt surrounding Slot’s future. That confidence has since eroded. With pressure mounting, attention has naturally turned to what alternatives Liverpool once considered.
According to a report by The Athletic published in May 2024, Liverpool had identified 12 potential candidates before ultimately appointing Slot. Here’s a look at where those managers are now.
Xabi Alonso
For a long time, it appeared the race to succeed Klopp was between Slot and Xabi Alonso. Having transformed Bayer Leverkusen into a Bundesliga force, Alonso opted to remain in Germany for another season after Klopp’s departure, effectively removing himself from contention.
The following summer, Alonso took over at Real Madrid as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor, but his return to the Bernabéu was short-lived. After just 34 matches, Florentino Pérez dismissed him, bringing an abrupt end to what many expected to be a long-term project.
Ruben Amorim
Fresh off leading Sporting CP to their second Primeira Liga title in four years, Ruben Amorim was another name on Liverpool’s radar. However, concerns surrounded his rigid commitment to a three-at-the-back system.
Amorim eventually replaced Erik ten Hag at Manchester United in November 2024. He guided the club to a Europa League final, narrowly losing 1-0 to Tottenham, but inconsistent league form persisted. Tensions peaked in January 2026 when Amorim publicly criticised the club’s ownership, prompting INEOS to sack the 40-year-old.
Roberto De Zerbi
Like Amorim, doubts were raised about Roberto De Zerbi’s tactical adaptability. While admired for his work at Brighton, he was never near the top of Liverpool’s shortlist.
De Zerbi left Brighton after 89 games to join Marseille in 2024. He led the French side to a second-place finish behind PSG in the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season and has made a solid start this term, though they remain some distance from the title contenders.
Julian Nagelsmann
Liverpool also had reservations about Julian Nagelsmann’s preference for a three-man defence. At the time, the German was managing the national team — a role he still occupies.
Despite successful club spells at Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, Nagelsmann’s focus remains on international football, with his sights firmly set on guiding Germany at the 2026 World Cup.
Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe’s prior working relationship with Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes made him an appealing option. However, Newcastle United were keen to retain him — a decision that has paid dividends.
Still in charge at St James’ Park, Howe boasts a points-per-game ratio of 1.76 across 205 matches. Most notably, he led Newcastle to Carabao Cup glory in 2024/25, defeating Liverpool 2-0 to end the club’s 70-year trophy drought.
Andoni Iraola
After a difficult start at Bournemouth, Andoni Iraola quickly steadied the ship and began claiming notable scalps in the Premier League. His connections with Hughes’ associate Iñaki Ibáñez only strengthened Liverpool’s interest.
Bournemouth finished 12th in Iraola’s debut season, followed by a top-half finish the next year. While the 2025/26 campaign has been more challenging following key departures, Iraola remains central to the club’s recent success.
Sebastian Hoeness
VfB Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness was another admired candidate, with performance metrics closely resembling Klopp’s. Despite Liverpool’s interest, the German stayed put.
Since then, Hoeness has been linked with several elite roles across Europe. Stuttgart finished ninth last season but are firmly in the top-four conversation this year, underlining his growing reputation.
Michel
Girona’s Michel was briefly tipped as a future Manchester City manager and was also considered by Liverpool. After guiding Girona to an unexpected third-place finish in La Liga, he chose continuity.
The following season proved far tougher as Girona narrowly avoided relegation, largely due to financial limitations. Even so, his earlier success highlighted what he might have achieved with greater resources.
Simone Inzaghi
After taking Inter Milan to two Champions League finals in three years, Simone Inzaghi was among Europe’s most sought-after managers. However, concerns over his limited English reportedly cooled Liverpool’s interest.
Inzaghi later moved to Saudi Arabia to take charge of Al-Hilal in 2025, where he remains highly respected within the global coaching fraternity.
Paulo Fonseca
Although never a leading contender, Paulo Fonseca was considered by Liverpool. His post-2024 journey has been turbulent.
After a brief and underwhelming stint at AC Milan, Fonseca joined Lyon but was later handed a nine-month ban following an angry confrontation with a referee. Despite this, Lyon are pushing for a top-four finish this season.
Ernesto Valverde
Out of work at the time, Ernesto Valverde was labelled a “leading contender” by The Athletic. With league titles at Barcelona and domestic success in Greece, he fit Liverpool’s criteria.
Despite his credentials — including ending Athletic Bilbao’s 40-year trophy drought — no formal approach was made, and Valverde remained in Spain.
Luciano Spalletti
Luciano Spalletti also attracted strong interest after leading Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990. At the time, he was managing Italy, but later returned to club football with Juventus.
Despite his experience and pedigree, Juventus have already fallen out of the title race this season, casting doubt on what might have been had Liverpool pursued him more aggressively.
The 12 Managers Liverpool Considered Before Appointing Arne Slot
Xabi Alonso – Bayer Leverkusen → Available
Ruben Amorim – Sporting CP → Available
Roberto De Zerbi – Brighton → Olympique Marseille
Julian Nagelsmann – Germany → Germany
Eddie Howe – Newcastle United → Newcastle United
Andoni Iraola – Bournemouth → Bournemouth
Sebastian Hoeness – VfB Stuttgart → VfB Stuttgart
Michel – Girona → Girona
Simone Inzaghi – Inter Milan → Al-Hilal
Paulo Fonseca – AC Milan → Olympique Lyonnais
Ernesto Valverde – Athletic Bilbao → Athletic Bilbao
Luciano Spalletti – Italy → Juventus