Wolfsburg manager Niko Kovac has tipped Jorg Schmadtke to succeed in the Premier League amid links with Liverpool.
Following the Reds' sixth successive win in the Premier League, the German chief emerged as a surprise frontrunner to succeed Julian Ward as sporting director at Anfield. The hunt has been ongoing for someone to fill the role with Ward leaving the club at the end of next month having spent only a year in the position as successor to Michael Edwards.
It has emerged that the 59-year-old is now the clear favourite, with a report in the Telegraph suggesting he is set to be appointed. The ECHO understands that while the German is in the frame for the job, nothing has yet been finalised.
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Schmadtke has been away from football since leaving VfL Wolfsburg in 2023 after five years with Die Wolfe. Prior to his stint at the Volkswagen Arena, he had roles at Koln, Hannover 96 and Aachen.
Kovac was appointed as the manager of the Bundesliga side during the 59-year-old's tenure and he praised the director. Speaking to ESPN, he said: "I played with him in Leverkusen so we were teammates and he was with me half-a-year in Wolfsburg.
"He's a smart guy, nice guy, he's a funny guy, he has a nice humour.
"Sometimes someone isn't understanding his humour but I understood it very well so I think he has the qualities to work in the best league in the world.
"The Bundesliga is also one of the top five but everybody knows the best players, the best coaches they are in England and he is now or maybe in England."
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