- Troy Deeney offers new name as possible contender for Liverpool manager post
- Ruben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi remain the two favourites for the job
- Roberto De Zerbi might as well be holding a placard saying ‘I want out’… Brighton fans should be peed off – It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Troy Deeney has thrown a shock new name into the frame as a possible contender for Liverpool‘s next manager.
Jurgen Klopp will leave Anfield at the end of the campaign after nine years at the helm, but it’s unclear who will follow in the German’s footsteps ahead of next season.
Xabi Alonso was the early favourite for the post, but last week the former Reds midfielder confirmed he’s set to stay on at title-chasing Bayer Leverkusen for another season.
That leaves Brighton‘s Roberto De Zerbi and Ruben Amorim of Sporting Libson as the two leading contenders for the vacancy on Merseyside.
However, former Premier League striker Deeney has put forward another option for the Anfield hot seat – Wolves gaffer Gary O’Neil.
Troy Deeney has suggested a new name as a contender for the manager’s job at Liverpool
Deeney says that Gary O’Neil come be the ideal candidate to succeed Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp will step down as Liverpool boss at the end of the season after nine years
O’Neil started his coaching career at Liverpool, and Deeney believes the club’s owners should take the former Premier League midfielder under consideration.
‘I’m going to throw a name at you – I think [Liverpool] need a coach next year more than a manager, so I’m going to say Gary O’Neil,’ he told talkSPORT.
‘If the rumours are are to be believed, three or four of the big players could move on and they could be left with a real young squad.
‘I think it could be a team that needs a younger coach who’s used to working with younger players with not too much expectation to go and win the league.
‘If someone like De Zerbi came in, we’d expect Liverpool to still be in the top four.’
O’Neil has led Wolves into the top half of the table and been one of the managers of the season
O’Neil was appointed Wolves manager just days before the club’s opening fixture, succeeding Julen Lopetegui, and has been one of the manager’s of the season.
He’s taken a Wolves team tipped to struggle this season into the top half of the table and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
His success with the midlands outfit has already he seen him linked as a possible name to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, with new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe said to be impressed with O’Neil’s work at Molineux.
