Liverpool interested in hiring 52-year-old manager instead of Xabi Alonso

Liverpool interested in hiring 52-year-old manager instead of Xabi Alonso

Liverpool interested in hiring 52-year-old manager instead of Xabi Alonso

With Liverpool now virtually certain of who their new sporting director will be, it’s full steam ahead on the search to replace Jurgen Klopp.

After Michael Edwards was appointed as FSG’s new CEO of football, he’s expected to hire Bournemouth’s Richard Hughes to oversee things at Liverpool this summer. From there, the race is on to ensure the Reds get their biggest appointment of the modern era right.

So far, the clear front-runner has been former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso. However, with it far from certain that Alonso will be tempted by a return to Anfield, other options are also reportedly being assessed.

One such candidate is claimed to be Lens manager Franck Haise. In quotes from CaughtOffside today, French football expert Jonathan Johnson has confirmed that Liverpool are taking a look at hiring Haise.

“Although we’ve heard a lot about names like Xabi Alonso and Roberto De Zerbi, Lens manager Franck Haise has also been linked as one potential outsider for the Liverpool job after his impressive work in Ligue 1,” Johnson explains.

“My understanding is that, yes, there has been interest in him going back a couple of years now, not just from Liverpool but also from other clubs across Europe.”

Liverpool looking at Haise
For those who don’t follow French football, Haise will perhaps be a completely unknown name. Despite being 52-years-old, the former midfielder is not a hugely experienced head coach.

Having spent a number of years in France’s lower leagues and as an assistant at Lorient, Haise took a job with Lens’ B team in 2017.

MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
From there, he was promoted to the top job in 2020, with Lens in Ligue 2. They weren’t there long though, Haise guiding the Blood and Gold to second place and promotion. After that, Lens’ story has been one of constant improvement.

They surprised everyone to finish 7th in Ligue 1 in their first top-flight season for years in 2020/21. Haise then proved that that was no fluke by following up with an identical finish in 2021/22.

Franck Haise
Then, to top it off, the manager guided Lens to second place and a Champions League spot last season.

They might well repeat the trick this time, too. Although currently sitting in fifth place, Lens are just four points off Brest in second. PSG are well clear at the top, but another runners-up spot would be mightily impressive.

This all paints a picture of a manager who is learning his trade and getting better all the time. Whether it’s enough to mark him out as a contender for Liverpool, we’re not so sure.

Clearly, Alonso should be the Reds’ top choice to succeed Klopp. If it isn’t possible to get the Spaniard though, it’s going to be interesting to see who jumps the queue.

Related Topics
XABI ALONSO
RELATED POSTS
MORE IN NEWS
More in News

ABOUT US
EDITORIAL POLICY
AUTHORS
NEWSLETTER
CONTACT US
PRIVACY POLICY
COMPLAINTS
PRIVACY SETTINGS
a proud member of

© 2024 GRV Media Ltd. All Rights Reserved
GRV Media Ltd, 18 Mulberry Avenue, Widnes,
Cheshire, WA8 0WN
Company No. 04155089

‘I’m not going to lie’… Michail Antonio admits one Liverpool player really annoys him sometimes

Michail Antonio admits there’s one thing that Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk does which really annoys him during games.

You’d imagine that Virgil van Dijk annoys plenty of attacking players in the Premier League due to his exceptional work at the back.

The Liverpool defender is widely viewed as the best centre-back in world football and he’s certainly been back to his best this season.

His latest display has earned him more plaudits after he dealt with the threat of Manchester City star Erling Haaland in the 1-1 draw at Anfield.

And while Michail Antonio has admitted he didn’t watch the game, he caught some highlights and spoke about Van Dijk’s 1v1 with Haaland in the second half.

Antonio admits Van Dijk annoys him
Speaking on The Footballer’s Football Podcast, Antonio discussed Van Dijk’s unique habit of turning his back while attackers are running at him.

The West Ham forward claims the Dutchman has done this to him plenty of times and admitted it annoys him.

“But I saw a couple of highlights when Haaland managed to square him up and there was one stage where he was running at him and one thing I love about Virgil, most defenders back off and running sidewards to try and see,” the Hammers star said.

“Virgil literally turns his back to you, like he fully turns his back to you and looks at you and goes ‘alright, if you’re going left, I’m going left. If you’re going right, I’m going right’.

“He just waits for you to knock the ball so he’s already in motion so he doesn’t have to generate the power to catch up to speed with you. He’s already there. Most defenders want to see you. He’s like I know I’m as quick and strong as you, knock it! Any stage you knock it, I’m there.”

“So much disrespect when he just looks at you like that,” Fulham’s Tom Cairney said. “So much disrespect.”