Zinedine Zidane has turned down the opportunity to manage Algeria's national team as he continues to be linked with the Liverpool job.
The football world was taken by surprise on Friday after Jurgen Klopp announced his decision to step down as Liverpool manager.
Klopp, who has lifted the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Club World Cup with the Premier League club, will leave at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
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“I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it," he said.
“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now."
He added: "I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again."
After such a successful nine-year stint, it will be extremely difficult to follow in the footsteps of Klopp, who has been tipped to receive the ultimate honour in the not-so-distant future.
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Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, who enjoyed a five-year spell at Anfield before joining Real Madrid, is the bookies favourite to take the Liverpool job at 4/6, according to Oddschecker.
Roberto De Zerbi, Pep Lijnders, Steven Gerrard and Julian Nagelsmann have also been linked with the role alongside Zinedine Zidane, who has received a very recent offer from the Algerian FA.
A report from French publication L'Equipe suggests the Frenchman was 'flattered' by the interest shown in him by Algeria as they look to replace Djamel Belmadi.
Belmandi resigned from his post after being eliminated from the AFCON’s group stage and Zidane, who is of Algerian descent, was seen as the ideal replacement.
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But the former Real Madrid manager turned down their advances. In fact, he has turned down offers to manage the United States national team, as well as Brazil, in more recent times.
Herve Renard, Vahid Halilhodzic, Vladimir Petkovic and Jorge Sampaoli are now being considered by the Algerian FA.
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Zidane, meanwhile, is the 9/1 favourite to take the Liverpool job at the end of the season. He has previously voiced his admiration for the Reds and their manager Jurgen Klopp, but is he the right man for the job?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: Getty ImagesTopics: Zinedine Zidane, Liverpool, Premier League, Jurgen Klopp
