As Liverpool’s season falters, questions surrounding Arne Slot’s long-term suitability at Anfield are intensifying.
Despite a successful debut year, the current campaign’s 21-point deficit to the league leaders has left many Liverpool fans calling for Slot to be replaced.
Enter Sebastian Hoeness, the VfB Stuttgart manager who has emerged as a primary candidate to stabilise the club. Hoeness is frequently likened to Jurgen Klopp due to a tactical philosophy centred on high-intensity pressing and fluid attacking transitions.
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With Slot facing an uphill battle to save his job, Hoeness represents a proactive option rooted in the heavy-metal style fans adore. And he’s someone Liverpool looked at when they were in the process of replacing Klopp.
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Hoeness has rapidly ascended the European coaching ranks through a mixture of tactical innovation and a pedigree rooted in German football royalty. The 43-year-old is the son of former international Dieter Hoeness and the nephew of Bayern Munich legend and current sporting director Uli Hoeness.
While his playing career as an attacking midfielder was modest, his managerial trajectory has been defined by consistent overperformance. He first gained prominence by leading Bayern Munich’s reserve team to the 3. Liga title in 2020, becoming the first coach of a reserve side to achieve the feat.
Since taking over VfB Stuttgart in April 2023, Hoeness has transformed the club from relegation certainties into Champions League regulars. In the 2023/24 season, he guided them to a remarkable second-place finish in the Bundesliga, famously edging out Bayern Munich on the final day.
His trophy cabinet also includes the 2025 DFB-Pokal, which was Stuttgart’s first major silverware since 2007.
Striker Ermedin Demirovic recently gave his manager the highest of praise. Asked on Sky Sports (via GOAL) if Hoeness is the best, the Stuttgart star responded: “I don’t see anyone who is better than him or under whom I would prefer to train. We have a great coach and a great coaching team who push the players and want to help them develop individually.”
Interestingly, he also hints at Hoeness being a capable man-manager, and in a very similar situation to what one would be walking into at Liverpool.
As he explained: “The team is basically such that we all support each other. If the coach decides to play with one striker and the other sits on the bench, then we will be there for each other. We don’t see ourselves as competitors, but as a duo and a double act.”
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Stuttgart are enjoying a strong season again under the German boss, in fourth as it stands with a decent chance of getting Champions League football next season.
Slot still has the job, but if we get to the end of the season and a replacement is on the cards, Hoeness might be the more Klopp-like appointment to get Liverpool back where they need to be.
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