Three of Europe’s most iconic soccer clubs are in need of new coaches at the end of the season. Jurgen Klopp announced he is leaving Liverpool, Xavi Hernandez is quitting Barcelona, and Thomas Tuchel will be parting ways with Bayern Munich. This leaves a number of acclaimed, title-winning managers out of work and adds to the intrigue of the upcoming offseason.
In addition to Klopp, Xavi, and Tuchel, other high-profile managers are also currently without a job. Jose Mourinho was recently fired by Roma, Zinedine Zidane is waiting for the right opportunity to return to coaching, Antonio Conte is planning a comeback, and Hansi Flick and Julian Nagelsmann are also available. The potential availability of Pep Guardiola, if he were to leave Manchester City, would add even more chaos to the coaching market.
Xabi Alonso, the coach of Bayer Leverkusen, has emerged as a highly sought-after coaching prospect. His team is performing well in the Bundesliga and is reportedly being pursued by top clubs like Liverpool, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich. It is unlikely that Leverkusen will be able to retain Alonso’s services given the interest from these clubs.
The departures of Klopp, Xavi, and Tuchel from their respective clubs are due to a variety of reasons. Klopp cited exhaustion after nine years in the role, Xavi mentioned mental fatigue and an unpleasant atmosphere at Barcelona, and Tuchel’s departure seems to be linked to poor results at Bayern Munich. Klopp is leaving on his own terms and plans to take a year-long break from coaching, similar to Guardiola’s sabbatical after leaving Barcelona.
Liverpool may be the most attractive destination for the available coaches, given the deep and talented squad that Klopp will be leaving behind. Xavi and Tuchel will be looking to make amends and repair their reputations at new clubs, with the possibility of winning the Champions League serving as a potential redemption for their recent setbacks. The competition for the biggest coaching jobs in European soccer has never been so fierce, making the upcoming offseason one of great intrigue and speculation.
