How will Liverpool approach building their team after Jürgen Klopp’s departure? What does the future hold for a disgruntled Karim Benzema? Where could Zinedine Zidane land next?
Here are the latest news updates from around world football.
Liverpool want a sporting director before a new manager
Per a report from the Telegraph’s Sam Wallace, Liverpool would like to hire a sporting director before hiring a new manager to replace Jürgen Klopp.
The legendary German manager is leaving the Reds at the end of the 2023/24 season after bringing both the Champions League and Premier League trophies to Anfield in a highly successful tenure with the historic English club.
Before Klopp’s arrival in Liverpool from Dortmund, the Reds were at risk with flirting with mid-table status and made so many ill-advised transfers.
Under Klopp, the Reds had a clear identity and were arguably the best team in world football at one point at identifying targets and signing the right players at the right price.
Klopp will be thoroughly missed, but finding the next Klopp isn’t realistic. Liverpool need to build a modern-day structure without him, and that does indeed start with a sporting director who sets the tone for the next manager.
Karim Benzema won’t leave Saudi Arabia
Al-Ittihad striker Karim Benzema has found life outside of Real Madrid to be rough. The Saudi Pro League venture has not gone nearly as well for Benzema as it did for his best friend Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
Benzema wants out, and while he has been linked to some big clubs around European football, there don’t appear to be any realistic suitors meeting Benz’s prestige or wage expectations as a Madrid legend.
But it might not even matter if Benz adjusts his expectations, because it seems like he won’t even be allowed to leave.
L’Equipe report that the country of Saudi Arabia itself is barring Benzema from leaving for Europe. They want to find solutions within the country and the Saudi Pro League for Benzema.
Could Benz run it back with Cristiano at Al-Nassr? That’s definitely something to consider.
Algeria wants Zinedine Zidane
According to a report from RMC Sport, Algeria have not given up on the idea of legendary player and manager Zinedine Zidane from coaching their national team.
Although he was born in France, led France to the 1998 World Cup title, and dreams of coaching their national team as a much-needed upgrade, Zidane’s parents were born in Algeria – he obviously holds Algeria dearly to his heart.
So managing Algeria could be just as much of a dream move, even if he would not have the talents like Kylian Mbappé or the developmental resources of the French national team.
Zidane could help Algeria improve their resources, too, in addition to achieving something a lot more special by leading them to a big World Cup.
There’s no doubting Zizou’s quality as a manager after his three-peat at Real Madrid and then his subsequent rescue job of the club in his second stint.
Former editor of The Real Champs and Old Juve, covering Real Madrid and Juventus
