Xabi Alonso recently became the latest former Liverpool star to go into management after the end of his playing career.
The former Spain midfielder has been confirmed as the head coach of Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkuse n. He becomes Gerardo Seoane’s replacement in Germany after he was dismissed following a Champions League defeat to Portuguese giants FC Porto.
With now 20 former Reds involved in the game from a coaching perspective as it stands, Mirror Sport has taken a close look at all of them to see how they’ve been getting on and decide if Alonso could match if not better them.
Xabi Alonso – Bayer Leverkusen
Having retired from playing in 2017 whilst with Bayern Munich, Alonso immediately moved into coaching having been handed the opportunity to manage Real Madrid ’s U14 side.
He followed that up with a spell as the manager of Real Sociedad’s B team and earned the side promotion to the second tier of Spanish football but left following relegation and has now been handed his first senior role.
Steven Gerrard – Aston Villa
A long-term partner of Alonso at Anfield, Gerrard earned his managerial stripes with his former club having been appointed as a youth coach with Liverpool. He then moved to Rangers in 2018 and ended the Scottish giants’ long wait for a title three years later.
He only stayed at Ibrox for a further few months having been appointed as Aston Villa manager following the sacking of Dean Smith. Despite a promising start, Gerrard now finds himself under pressure following an underwhelming second season.
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Dirk Kuyt – ADO Den Haag
A cult hero on Merseyside, Dutchman Kuyt went on to play for Fenerbahce, Feyenoord and Quick Boys before finally hanging up his boots in 2018.
He was handed his first opportunity in coaching only this season having been appointed as the head coach of ADO Den Haag in the second division of Dutch football. However, the appointment has not gone the way many envisaged with the side currently sitting 17th from only two wins from their opening nine games.
He was recently confronted by fans amid the club’s poor start to the campaign.
Nuri Sahin – Antalyaspor
Having joined Liverpool on-loan from Real Madrid, big things were expected of the Turkish midfielder but he could not hit the heights expected of him.
He since had spells with Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen and Antalyaspor before becoming the manager of the latter. He led them to a seventh-placed finish last term and has admitted he has his eyes on the Dortmund role.
Daniel Agger – HB Koge
Famed for his tough-tackling play style at Anfield, the Danish defender spent eight-and-a-half seasons with Liverpool. Since retiring, he has become a qualified tattoo artist, established a sewerage company and has been appointed as manager of Danish side HB Koge.
They finished seventh in the Superliga last term - a position that they currently occupy again this term.
Andrea Dossena – Renate
Arriving from Udinese in the summer of 2008, the Italian international really did not live up to the billing at Liverpool. He stayed for just a season-and-a-half before leaving for Napoli.
Following a journeyman career that took him to Sunderland and Leyton Orient, he retired in 2017 with his managerial career having gone the same way. He has taken over the likes of Crema, Ravenna and Renate in the Italian lower leagues. Dossena has his current side rooted in mid-table in Serie C.
Nigel Clough – Mansfield Town
A Nottingham Forest icon, Clough struggled during his time at Anfield and having rounded off his career with Burton Albion has gone on to enjoy a lengthy coaching career.
He has had two spells with the Brewers and has enjoyed plenty of success at the Pirelli Stadium. Clough has also been appointed at Derby County, Sheffield United and Mansfield Town having developed the reputation as one of the most capable managers in the EFL.
Albert Riera – Olimpija Ljubljana
A 16-time Spanish international, Riera initially retired in 2018 and having earned a UEFA Pro Licence, returned to former club Galatasaray as assistant coach to Fatih Terim.
He had a further spell in Istanbul alongside Domènec Torrent before earning his first managerial role with Olimpija Ljubljana. The role started off horrendously having been forced out of his first press conference by disgruntled supporters but has managed to mastermind the club’s best start to a season since 1994.
Christian Ziege – FC Pinzgau
An underwhelming signing for the Reds, the former German international has taken on a number of responsibilities since his playing days. He worked his way up at former club Borussia Monchengladbach before his first managerial role with Arminia Bielefeld.
He was relieved of his duties having led the German club to its worst start in 23 years. Since then, he has been involved with the DFB on a number of occasions before managing SpVgg Unterhaching, Atlético Baleares and Ratchaburi Mitr Phol but left the latter after just two games.
He now finds himself at Austrian minnows FC Pinzgau.
Jan Kromkamp – CSV Apeldoorn
One name that might be forgotten, the ex-Dutch international only represented the Reds for half a season having arrived from Villarreal. The two-time Eredivisie winner retired in 2013 and was appointed as the manager of fourth division side CSV Apeldoorn.
He earned promotion at the end of last season and will be hoping to continue that upward trajectory this term.
John Arne Riise – Avaldsnes IL
Having retired five years ago, former defender Riise took a spell out of the game before turning up at Maltese outfit Birkirkara as their sports director. He stayed for just a few months before leaving for personal reasons.
His next assignment was at Flint Tonsberg but also bid farewell with the club having been relegated to the fourth tier of Norwegian football. Riise then moved into the women’s game having taken the reins of Avaldsnes IL.
Paul Ince – Reading
Nicknamed ‘The Guv'nor’, Ince’s managerial career has been as wide-ranging as his playing career. Starting his coaching journey at Macclesfield, he has enjoyed spells at MK Dons, Blackburn Rovers, Notts County and Blackpool since.
Following a near eight-year spell out of the game, the former midfielder was appointed at Reading on an interim basis and having saved them from relegation was given the role on a full-time basis. His side are currently flying high among the early contenders for promotion.
Paul Konchesky – West Ham Women
Another underwhelming defensive recruit from the past decade, Konchesky kicked off his coaching career with former club West Ham before becoming Jamie O’Hara’s assistant at Billericay Town.
He was soon back with the Hammers though having joined West Ham women as a coach before being appointed as manager earlier this year. Konchesky currently has the side sitting ninth in the WSL.
Rigobert Song – Cameroon
Having spent a solitary season with Liverpool, it might be somewhat surprising to note that Song has likely gone on to earn one of the most glamorous roles.
Having worked his way up through the Cameroon FA, he is now the nation’s manager. All going well, he will lead the country at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
Fernando Torres – Atletico Madrid U19s
An Anfield icon, the former Spain forward has only been in the coaching game for just over a year having been confirmed as the U19 head coach with former club Atletico Madrid.
He currently has the side sitting third in their respective division with three wins out of their opening four matches of the campaign.
Alvaro Arbeloa – Real Madrid U19s
Intriguingly, Torres has plenty of competition from former club and international teammate Alvaro Arbeloa.
The former defender has his Real Madrid youth side top of the league having rounded off his playing career in the Premier League with West Ham United.
Javier Mascherano – Argentina U20s
Another to have ventured into youth football, the Argentine retired from football a couple of years ago with Estudiantes.
He was appointed as the manager of the Argentina U20 team earlier this year.
Alberto Aquilani – Fiorentina U19s
Well known as an Anfield flop following his miserable spell with the club following his arrival from Roma, the Italian is attempting to forge a career with former club Fiorentina.
He was handed a role as the club’s U18 manager before becoming Giuseppe Iachini’s assistant for the senior team. Aquilani returned to youth football and won the Coppa Italia with the club’s U19 side.
Igor Biscan – Croatia U19s
A former Croatia international, Biscan has returned to work with the national team and is currently serving as manager of the U19 side.
Before that, he was with Rudes and Olimpija Ljubljana - winning the Slovenian title and cup with the club. Following a surprise sacking, he then signed for Rijeka but was faced with criticism from the club’s ultras due to being a former Dinamo Zagreb player. He resigned in 2019.
Gregory Vignal – Dundee U18s
An underwhelming name regarding Liverpool, the former French youth international has headed north of the border to cut his managerial teeth.
He was at first the manager of Rangers’ women's side before leaving for a role at Marseille’s academy. Vignal was to return to Scotland though having become a youth coach at Dundee.
