Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been linked with a surprise return to management this week, amid speculation that Nottingham Forest may break ways with Nuno Espirito Santo following his most recent public outburst. The German coach left management two years ago, citing a lack of energy.
He had previously done the same at the end of his time at Borussia Dortmund, only to rapidly reverse direction and accept the challenge of rebuilding Anfield, converting doubters into believers and leading Liverpool to a Champions League victory and their first Premier League triumph in three decades. Since taking over as Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer, he has repeatedly been linked to a similar surprise return to management.
According to reports, the City Ground is in turmoil on a hierarchical level. However, taking over a club that has received significant funding in recent transfer windows and demonstrated its worth by qualifying for the Europa League last season provides an appealing option for any top manager. Despite Klopp’s recent ties to the club, and Evangelos Marinakis’ respect for the 58-year-old, Forest are apparently considering another former Liverpool manager to take over if they decide a change is required.
Klopp is overlooked as Forest considers four candidates.
Despite a recent talkSPORT article claiming that Europa League-winning former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglu would be willing to take on the challenge of replacing Nuno, given the current manager’s schism with Edu and Evangelos Marinakis, he is reportedly not at the top of Nottingham Forest’s list.
Neither is Jose Mourinho, who would surely profit from Forest’s superb defensive lineup, which includes Ola Aina, Neco Williams, new loan acquisition Douglas Luiz, and the centre-back duo of Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo. While the Fenerbahce hothead is named alongside Postecoglu, according to The Sun, Brendan Rodgers is Forest’s primary priority.
“Straight-talking Marinakis has had his sights on Rodgers for months,” a report states, “and the time may be right to strike soon to bring the former Liverpool and Leicester manager back to England.” It also discusses Rodgers’ final year at Celtic and how he previously left them to join the Premier League. Watch Nuno Espirito Santo’s interview, which has left his Forest job hanging in the balance, below:
Rodgers’ most memorable term was from 2012 to 2015, when he was charged with bringing Liverpool to the top of English football. Although he came close in the 2013/14 season, coming second to Manchester City with 101 goals, he battled with consistency, and his free-flowing offensive style frequently concealed defensive flaws.
However, if Forest decide to break ways with Nuno, Rodgers’ FA Cup success with Leicester City may make him a perfect candidate for the position. At Leicester, he exhibited a more balanced approach to management before going on to win many Scottish Premiership titles with Celtic.
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