Liverpool have been linked with hiring VfB Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness recently, but is he the leading option to potentially replace Arne Slot at Anfield?
Slot did his chances of remaining in charge of the Reds no good over the weekend, with his side deservedly beaten 2-1 at Brighton in the Premier League.
It was Liverpool’s 10th loss in the competition this season, and having impressed in last week’s 4-0 win at home to Galatasaray, they came crashing back down to reality.
Slot needs to be sacked in the eyes of many Reds supporters, and Hoeness has been mentioned as an option in recent weeks, as he continues to impress at Stuttgart.
Speaking to Football Insider, journalist Pete O’Rourke claimed that the 43-year-old would be a strong successor to Slot, even though Xabi Alonso is in pole position currently:
“Sebastian Hoeness is very highly regarded, (and has) done an unbelievable job with Stuttgart, really. He’s under contract until 2028. I’m sure Stuttgart do not want to lose him, but they’ll be well aware that it won’t just be the likes of Liverpool who’d be interested in Hoeness.
“I think there will be a number of clubs across Europe who will be looking at him because of what he has done so far in his career. He’s helped to develop a number of top young players there as well. He’s a top young manager. I don’t think he’d be top of Liverpool’s list right now. It does seem that if Slot were to go, Xabi Alonso would be the obvious fit.
“But if Hoeness continues doing good things like he’s doing at Stuttgart, it’ll only be a matter of time before some of Europe’s top clubs are ready to take him.”
Is Xabi Alonso a better option than Sebastian Hoeness for Liverpool?
Hoeness is an impressive manager, winning the German Cup with Stuttgart last season, but hiring him would still be a risk, considering his lack of experience.
In Alonso, Liverpool would be bringing in someone who has already won the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen, and also managed Real Madrid, even though it didn’t go well for him there.
The fact that he has played for the Reds is an added bonus, meaning he knows the club inside out, so he is the obvious choice to replace Slot, if he is sacked.
