Before Xabi Alonso, Liverpool had experienced bitterness under the guidance of five different managers. In the summer of 2004, Liverpool appointed Rafael Benitez instead of Jose Mourinho. Mourinho still remembers it:

Jose Mourinho

“I was invited to meet Liverpool representatives on the night before the Champions League match between Porto and Manchester United in March. But I was preparing for an important game and wasn’t ready to leave the hotel to meet another club.

“Everything Chelsea did was right. I wаnted to leave Porto in a good way, and Chelsea agreed to wait.” According to the Daily Mail, Mourinho rejected Liverpool for the second time in the summer of 2015, just a few months before Jurgen Klopp took the job.

Didier Deschamps

Didier Deschamps’ reputation grew as Benitez’s time at Anfield came to an end. He led Monaco to the Champions League final, losing to Mourinho’s Porto in 2004, and six years later, he won his first Ligue 1 title with Marseille.

Deschamps responded when asked if Liverpool approached him:

“Yes, it’s true. I am proud that a club like Liverpool showed interest in me. But the timing wasn’t right. I was committed to Marseille, the players, and the fans, and I couldn’t leave them two days before the start of the season.

“I am extremely pleased and happy with Liverpool’s approach, but I decided to stay and continue my adventure with Marseille.” When Kenny Dalglish’s tenure ended in 2012, Frank De Boer was seen as a promising young tactician at Ajax, having led them to consecutive Eredivisie titles.

De Boer commented on Liverpool’s interest:

“I like working in England. I told Liverpool that I was very honored, but I had only been at Ajax for a year, so it was too early. I need more achievements, and I have achieved them.”

Jurgen Klopp

Now forgotten due to past successes, Jurgen Klopp could have arrived at Anfield over three years earlier. Sky Sports reported that he turned down the opportunity to succeed Dalglish in 2012 when he was leading Borussia Dortmund to consecutive Bundesliga titles.

Klopp told reporters in Germany:

“I received interest from England and it was an honor to be linked with big clubs in the Premier League. However, I still had a contract with Dortmund until 2016 and I wasn’t going anywhere. I love it here and have no intention of changing clubs.”

Louis van Gaal

 Before appointing Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool had negotiations with Louis van Gaal. At that time, Van Gaal was unemployed after leaving Bayern Munich.

The Dutch manager shared with reporters during his time at Manchester United:

“Yes, I spoke with Liverpool, but it’s not interesting anymore. Last week, I was asked the same about Tottenham. I have talked to many clubs. It’s all in the past. It wouldn’t be good for Liverpool, Tottenham, or me to revisit the past.”