KOP News # 1226

PEP GUARDIOLA JOINS ANFIELD'S LIST

 

Pep Guardiola is wanted by Liverpool

Friday May 18,2012

By Paul Joyce

 

LIVERPOOL have put Pep Guardiola's name on a wide-ranging shortlist of candidates to succeed Kenny Dalglish.

Ex-England boss Fabio Capello, who has his sights on Chelsea, is also set to feature as Liverpool look to back up the bold claim they can attract the world's best managers.

Approaches have already been made to up-and-coming Premier League bosses Roberto Martinez of Wigan and Swansea's impressive Brendan Rodgers. The Anfield hierarchy have wasted no time in beginning their search and as many as eight names are set to feature on the list.

The moves follow a conference call involving owner John W Henry, chairman Tom Werner and managing director Ian Ayre, who insists Liverpool remains one of the "biggest jobs in the world". Guardiola has just begun a year's
sabbatical after leaving Barcelona and has resisted overtures from Chelsea, but Liverpool feel it would be a mistake not to test the water.

There are already links with Guardiola at Anfield with the Spaniard's brother, Pere, the agent of star striker Luis Suarez.

It's absolutely critical that we get it right and move forward. It's where the football club has to be

Ian Ayre

Guardiola would have to perform a major U-turn to abandon plans for a year out and the rest of the list is more realistic.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan confirmed Liverpool have asked for permission to speak to Martinez, while a similar approach has been made to the highly-rated Rodgers.

"I've always said that when a big club comes Roberto will have permission to talk to them and they don't come any bigger than Liverpool," said Whelan. "He'll be talking to them soon."

Others set to be approached include Capello, Borussia Dortmund's Jurgen Klopp, ex-Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas, Ajax coach Frank De Boer and Marseille's Didier Deschamps.
It has also emerged that Holland manager Bert van Marwijk has a clause allowing him to speak to English clubs.

A hectic day following the sacking of Daglish came as Ayre stressed it is "absolutely critical" to correctly pinpoint his successor.

Ayre said: "It's absolutely critical that we get it right and move forward. It's where the football club has to be."

Ayre, who has signed a new contract safeguarding his position, remains sure of Liverpool's appeal.

"We may have lost our way a little in terms of performances, but Liverpool still gets everyone excited and interested," he said.

"This is one of the biggest jobs in world football."

Jen Chang, senior editor of football for Sports Illustrated, is set to be appointed as Liverpool's new director of communications.