This is the issue he faces here, I would assume that’s Chelsea putting it out names as I’ve heard the industry has cold shouldered them.
Rosenior didn’t get six years pay for being sacked. By credible reports, he’s getting one year’s wages because of a break clause.
Is one year of separation pay sufficient for Alonso to get into that mess and deal with any reputational damage? I doubt it.
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Xabi doesn’t need the money after his career though. And it really could set him back.
But there has been plenty of managers post Chelsea who have done quite well for themselves - Ranieri, Jose, Tuchel, Ancelotti, Conte.
Despite the likely short termism I think a manager would be mad to turn it down. Xabi has not been “linked” to many clubs yet but it is starting. Maybe Slot is staying.
We are finding some excuses above why they are not the fit for Xabi because let’s face it we want him.
If we want Xabi at the end of the season, and have made a move for him, it will be done.
If we don’t, he’s got to do what he feels best for his own career, and while I might dislike some possible suitors, the fact that we didn’t snap him up means we will have to live with whatever he decides.
I’m still of the view that Alonso is all but done. We will qualify for the CL, although it might get tetchy with some tough fixtures coming up, but when the end comes for Slot it will be quick and decisive and Xabi will be installed.
We try to operate a professional outfit, so some of the unseemly aspects won’t be so visible, as I expect the club will have been consulting with Alonso ahead of time on potential recruitment, for example.
I could be miles off, and the noises about Slot staying for next year might have credence. What will be will be, but at that point I think the club is setting itself up for difficulties if we retain Slot.
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Any manager can take the Chelsea job, combust after 12-18 months, get fired. Take the pay off Stay unemployed for 1 year. Rebuild your reputation , Even if people don’t get a top job, it hardly would matter.
And then make a return to management with a lesser club and attempt to build himself back again. Managers like Jose, Conte and Ancelotti were big enough that even a firing at Chelsea didn’t overly harm their reputation.
Rafa probably just reached the end of his contract and he wasn’t extended.
It’s mostly other managers (Sacchi etc etc) who come on , find that the job is too big for them and then find their reputation in tatters as a result (Potter especially)
Xabi had a stellar career as a player which has only recently finished, plus two years with Leverkusen and a pay-off from Real Madrid. He certainly won’t need another coaching role for the money. In fact, if he is motivated primarily by the dollars then he’s not going to want to stay at Liverpool anyway and wouldn’t be the coach we need. I can’t see how the Chelsea job makes any sense for him at all right now and taking it would be a clear sign that he isn’t in football management for the right reasons.
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Respectfully disagree @dalglish
The chaotic mob we are talking about generally compete for trophies. I reckon it’s still an attractive proposition for a manager - big $ or not. And a career mover if you are any good.
The cluster fuck of transfer restrictions, player turnover, manager merry go round, questionable financial management, ownership madness still has them around when the whips are cracking. Even though league form has been dodgy of late the are still world club champions and into the Cup final. And I hate it. For the record I would be very unhappy if Xabi end up there and Slot stays here.
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If Xabi goes to Chelsea and gets sacked in a year, would you want to hire him as a Liverpool supporter if Slot eventually goes? With the stench of Real Madrid and (especially) Chelsea on him?
I think if he goes to City or Chelsea, that ends our chances of ever hiring him here.
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You are comparing to the ownership under Abramovic, since he left, the new ownership are a shambles and realitically have won bugger all that is prestigious
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Yes, I don’t think it changes anything unless there is some issue with his coaching that becomes evident during that year.
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Didn’t they fluke their second champions league win against city with the new management ?
Nope, 2021 under Abramovic
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Problem is all but 2 of them were already names and Mourinho was a different era entirely.
I think there is a huge and possibly misguided assumption being made that Alonso will only go to a top club.
He is a young manager and very probably he learned a lot from his short time at RM… about himself and his weak points as well.
I probably wouldn’t be surprised if he felt like going to a well run midtable club to reestablish himself and continue learning. Not making a prediction that he will, but wouldn’t be surpprised either way.
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No I’m not. Questionable financial management and madness were the descriptions so take your pick.
Club world cup was significant in my opinion.
I don’t as it was Micky mouse as the 2 current PL and La Liga winners were absent.
“The chaotic mob we are talking about generally compete for trophies. I reckon it’s still an attractive proposition for a manager - big $ or not. And a career mover if you are any good”
This was your 2nd paragraph, they have done poorly under the current ownership and have only been in the Champions league once
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BlueCo took over a side that had just finished 3rd and were one year removed from winning the CL. In the years since their absurd “smartest man in the room” style of ownership has produced league finishes of
22-23: 12th
23-24: 6th
24-25: 4th
25-26: Currently 8th
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So Xabi now favourite for Chelsea gig.
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Did we enter some sort of alternative universe hell round about early 2025?
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