Danny Murphy has named the ‘outstanding candidate’ he’d like to see as the next Liverpool head coach – and it isn’t Xabi Alonso.
The Spaniard has been continually cited as a leading contender to replace Arne Slot in the Anfield dugout, with the incumbent boss subjected to intense scrutiny over his position in recent months amid a hugely underwhelming second season at the helm.
However, The Athletic‘s David Ornstein reported earlier this month that the former Real Madrid coach isn’t in FSG’s thinking at present, with the hierarchy prepared to keep faith with the Dutchman for the time being.
If that stance were to change and Liverpool part ways with Slot, Murphy would like to see Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique being handed the reins at Anfield.
Speaking to Betarades.gr (via Liverpool Echo), the former Reds midfielder proclaimed: “For me, there is one outstanding candidate – Luis Enrique. Could Liverpool maybe tempt him, especially if he wins the Champions League again? Maybe he would feel like he needs a new challenge.
“He is a phenomenal coach and when you watch PSG play, you kind of feel that is how I want my team to play.”
On Alonso, Murphy said: “Xabi Alonso is an outstanding new manager and he has that connection with the Liverpool fans, which always helps from an emotional point of view. There has been a lot of talk recently about the manager’s connection with the fans – or maybe lack of connection.
“The only thing with Xabi Alonso is that he primarily is a possession based manager, just like Arne Slot to a degree. I think Liverpool fans, at least from what we know, want a more risky, high energy and all-in type of football, but he is a super young coach, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we see him as a Liverpool manager at some point.”
Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
Reds supporters don’t need any enlightening about Enrique’s credentials at PSG – his side have beaten us three times in the past 14 months and, particularly in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final three weeks ago, looked every bit like the European champions that they are.
The breathless 5-4 victory over Bayern Munich on Tuesday night would certainly fit the description of the ‘high-energy’ and ‘all-in’ approach that Murphy claimed Liverpool fans would crave at Anfield, and the Spaniard is two wins away from leading his team to back-to-back Champions League triumphs.
That’d be a notable achivement for PSG, who were notorious for falling short in that competition in recent years despite spending vast sums of money on big names, but have found success with a more modest recruitment model and with the quietly brilliant Enrique in the dugout.
Whenever the 55-year-old does move on from Paris, he’ll no doubt be one of the most (if not the most) sought-after coaches in world football, and he’d surely be welcomed with open arms at Anfield if the Reds were to appoint him.
FSG look set to keep backing Slot for now, but in time we hope that they don’t miss the boat if the opportunity to appoint Enrique were to arise.
Welcome to our Live Comments section, where new comments will appear automatically
Of course Luis Enrique is better. But based on current situation, why will he come here to become a head coach? He is the manager at psg and has the dough to spend without consulting their sporting directors etc. Even if he were to leave, man city will be the ideal place for him. I watched the psg vs bayern game. They are truly champions. We should be ashamed of ourselves how much we have declined. Fsg needs to go get Alonso before it is too late.
FSG has a model of spending few apart from last SS. They are like the cheapo who for once spent big but look awkward in their new expensive outfits. Iraola would be the best profile to suit FSG. They will never hire a Guardiola or Enrique. FSG is all about accounting (building assets n make huge profits) than sport achievement.
You are right mate, fsg will not spend big and they want a yes man as head coach. Building a structure where transfers are no longer controlled by the gaffer, they effectively control the profit and loss on players, wages etc etc. However, this structure has already started to fail at Liverpool. There have not been other elite football clubs with the same structure as well. We will not be able to attract world class managers because they will not want to be bound by restrictions over transfers. The only way fsg can learn is when we become a top 4 or 5 teams and win nothing for the next few seasons. They might just say that’s enough, sell the club…
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Notify me of follow-up comments by email.
Notify me of new posts by email.
