The player transfer window will open at the end of the season, but manager movement has no deadline: anyone can change roles at any time.
Jurgen Klopp’s announcement in January that he would leave Liverpool at the end of this season after nine years at Anfield sparked speculation over who would replace him.
Shortly after, Xavi said he would step down as Barcelona head coach this summer before Bayern Munich joined the party in February confirming they would part ways with Thomas Tuchel, leaving three of the biggest European football positions open for applications. However, Xavi has now reversed his decision and will stay at Barca.
Meanwhile, a disappointing season for Manchester United has also led to questions over the future of Erik ten Hag and a potential vacancy at Old Trafford.
So, who are the managers who should move in the coming months and who will stay put?
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Arne Slot
Liverpool had an opening bid of €9 million (£7.7 million, $9.6 million) for Slot turned down by Feyenoord.
The 45-year-old is their preferred candidate to succeed Klopp, but they have favored discretion when entering into negotiations with the Dutch club and their highly regarded CEO, Dennis te Kloese. Slot’s contract runs until 2026 but he wants to move to Anfield.
Slot helped Feyenoord win the Eredivisie title in 2023 and reach the Europa Conference League final in 2022. This season, he guided them to their first KNVB Cup (Dutch FA Cup) triumph since 2018.
Slot, originally from the Netherlands, meets the key criteria set by Liverpool in their search for a new manager, with a track record of playing attacking football and developing young talent.
AthleticismSlot’s Mark Carey says: “Data from Slot’s Feyenoord team indicates an aggressive and dominant style of play, perfectly suited to the Liverpool team.”
Ruben Amorim
The Sporting Lisbon head coach was in London this week for talks with West Ham United, although David Moyes is still in charge of the east London club.
Moyes, 60, is out of contract this summer and although he said in February that he had been offered a new contract, his future remains uncertain.
However, Amorim is not expected to join West Ham. Following the meeting, he would have felt a movement that was not for him.
Amorim was also in Liverpool’s thoughts for the summer, but their preferred candidate to replace Klopp is Slot.
Amorim, 39, won the Portuguese league title with Sporting in 2021 and is known for promoting young players and improving individuals.
Julen Lopetegui
The 57-year-old is out of work after leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers days before the start of the Premier League season, to be replaced by Gary O’Neil.
The former coach of Spain’s men’s national team, Sevilla and Real Madrid, has also been evaluated by West Ham, and Amorim is unlikely to join him, bringing Lopetegui and others firmly into The mixture.
Lopetegui’s departure from Wolves last summer came after he spoke of the club’s financial problems.
Xavier
The former midfielder reversed his decision to leave Barca this summer after discussions with sporting director Deco and club president Joan Laporta.
Xavi will now remain in charge with a contract that runs until the end of June 2025.
The former Spain international won La Liga in his first full season in charge after taking over in November 2021.
However, this season the club is expected to finish empty-handed, behind league rivals Real Madrid and eliminated from both the Champions League and Copa del Rey at the quarter-final stage.
On Xavi’s U-turn, AthleticismPol Ballus said: “The lack of consensus around Xavi’s future is undoubtedly the biggest concern for Barca fans. The 44-year-old’s support within the club appears to be at its lowest since his arrival in 2021. But for now, Barca’s players, board and agents know what to expect from the club as they begin work towards next season.
Ralf Rangnick
The Austrian coach confirmed on April 24 that he had held talks with Bayern to replace Tuchel as head coach.
Speaking to Austrian media outlet 90minuten, Rangnick said: “Bayern Munich contacted me and I also informed the OFB (Austrian Football Association). We have a very trusting relationship. My focus is on the Austrian national team.
The 65-year-old, who was caretaker manager of Manchester United in 2021-22 for seven months, is expected to lead his Austrian side at the upcoming European Championship this summer.
When Rangnick was asked when he might consider a role change, he added: “At that point Bayern would say, ‘We want you.’ And then I have to ask myself, “Do I really want this?” “. If I want to do anything else, I will discuss it with the OFB first.
Although his time at United ended in failure, Rangnick has previously enjoyed success as director of football at Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig, among other roles.
Xabi Alonso
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder ended Bayern Munich’s dominance in the Bundesliga by winning the title with Bayer Leverkusen this month and is one of the most in-demand coaches in Europe.
But Alonso said in late March that “(Leverkusen) is the right place for me” and confirmed he would stay to take them to the Champions League next season.
Liverpool knew the 42-year-old was unlikely to leave Leverkusen as they searched for a successor to Klopp, while Bayern were also considering their former player to succeed outgoing manager Tuchel.
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Julien Nagelsmann
The Germany head coach was linked with a return to Bayern Munich and last summer attracted interest from Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain.
However, on 19 April he signed a contract extension with the national team to remain in charge until after the 2026 World Cup.
Nagelsmann won the Bundesliga with Bayern in 2022 and reached the DFB-Pokal final in 2021 with Leipzig and took them to the semi-finals of the Champions League, but will now lead the Germany men’s team for both next few years, after succeeding Hansi Flick on a short-term deal in September 2023.
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Unai Emery
The Spaniard delighted Aston Villa supporters – and owners – when he extended his contract this week.
The former Arsenal, Sevilla and Villarreal head coach, a four-time Europa League winner, has turned around Villa’s fortunes since taking over from Steven Gerrard in November 2022.
Villa are in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League and are expected to finish in the top four of the Premier League, which would guarantee a place in the Champions League.
Emery had been linked with several vacancies but will now discuss extending his deal with the club when he meets Villa owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens this summer.
AthleticismVilla journalist Jacob Tanswell said: “The club was built and run in Emery’s image, providing the type of power and environment suited to his management style. That’s why it was always unlikely that he would be tempted by the interest shown in him this summer.
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Thomas Tuchel
Tuchel will leave Bayern at the end of the season after becoming the first of their managers not to win the Bundesliga in 12 years. Tuchel paid the price for Alonso’s Leverkusen, which ended Bayern’s run of 11 consecutive titles.
This year, Tuchel discussed the possibility of managing in Spain – with Barcelona seeking a successor to Xavi – at a supporters’ club in Munich and the publication of his quotes led Bayern to issue a statement. “He (Tuchel) answered general questions from fans about Spain as a football country,” it read. “He never spoke about Xavi and his successor, as was later falsely claimed.”
However, Tuchel is no longer on Barca’s shortlist. There were concerns over performances towards the end of his tenure at Chelsea and PSG, while finances were also a concern for Barcelona. They are now focused on retaining Xavi’s services.
Manchester United would strongly call on Tuchel if Erik ten Hag were to leave.
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Erik Ten Hag
Getting past Championship club Coventry City on penalties ensured Ten Hag’s second consecutive appearance in the FA Cup final – but it won’t necessarily guarantee their future at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag’s position was called into question after a series of disappointing results and performances, but he said on April 6 that he had “no doubt” about his ability to lead next season. However, that was before losing a three-goal lead at Wembley in the semi-final and being one VAR call away from his eliminated side – and it all played out in front of United co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer , as well as new technical director Jason Wilcox.
INEOS’s taking a minority stake in the club has only intensified speculation over Ten Hag’s future, with company chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe and director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford saying. having to decide on the choice of the 54-year-old after the end of this campaign.
Ten Hag can still end the season with a trophy if they do what they failed to do last year: beat neighbors Manchester City in the final. But an absence of Champions League football – and finishing last in their Champions League group this season – will not work in their favor.
Roberto DeZerbi
The Italian took Brighton to Europe for the first time this season after a sixth-place finish in the Premier League last year.
This success has led to De Zerbi being linked with vacancies at Barcelona, Liverpool and Bayern. However, highly placed sources at Brighton – who were granted anonymity to protect their relationships – believe he is now more likely to stay, with two years remaining on his contract.
De Zerbi fueled talk over his future at the end of March when he said he wanted to speak with Brighton’s decision-makers to ensure he and the club were still behind the “same plan for the future”.
Liverpool have found that De Zerbi has performed well according to data produced by his analysts, but his confrontational style, as his comments above show, could work against him in the eyes of higher-up club executives. level.
Additional reporting: Dan Sheldon, James Pearce, Adam Crafton, Andy Naylor, Pol Ballus, Mark Critchley, David Ornstein
(Top photos: Emilio Andreoli; Paolo Bruno; Naomi Baker/Getty Images)