Former Liverpool player who scored against Man United in 2009 now appointed manager at third division club

The highest profile of these is without a doubt Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title this season.

Steven Gerrard has also given management a shot, but has not found success as easy to come by as Alonso. It remains to be seen whether the Liverpool legend returns to coach in Europe.

Aside from that iconic pair, Dirk Kuyt has done well with Beerschot, earning promotion to the Belgian top division, while Fernando Torres has impressed with Atletico Madrid’s U19s.

Torres has since taken on a new job, moving up to manage Atletico B in the Spanish third division. And one of the Spaniard’s former Liverpool teammates is now set to manage at the same level in Italy.

Perhaps it is no coincidence that so many of Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool squad have followed their former boss into management.

Albert Riera is another who is a current manager – in charge of Ligue 2 side Bordeaux – while Javier Mascherano coaches Argentina’s U20 team.

Benitez was a superb tactician and it seems he passed the coaching bug onto many who he came across at Liverpool.

And while these other names were largely big players for the Reds, some of the less recognisable ones from that late 2000’s team are also giving management a go.

Andrea Dossena did not have a distinguished career with Liverpool. After being signed from Udinese in summer of 2008, the Italian went on to play just 31 games across two season.