Forgotten Liverpool star emerges shock favourite to become new manager of Championship club

Daily Mail​

23-05-2025

Hull City are reportedly eyeing a former Liverpool star as their next manager following the shock dismissal of Ruben Selles.
The Spaniard guided the Tigers to safety on the final day of the Championship season but was nonetheless given the boot after only six months in charge.
The 41-year-old became the third head coach sacked by Hull owner Acun Ilicali in the last 12 months, with his exit beginning the search for the club's fifth permanent boss since the Turkish media mogul took control in early 2022.
According to The Sun, former Reds and Manchester City winger Albert Riera has emerged as a leading candidate to become their next manager.
The Spaniard, who spent two seasons at Anfield under Rafael Benitez, is currently in charge of Slovenian top-flight side NK Celje, who currently sit fourth heading into the final round of the term.
The report claims that Riera is keen on managing in England following spells in charge of fellow Slovenian outfit Olimpija Ljubljana and fallen French giants Bordeaux.
Riera was appointed Bordeaux manager in October 2023, returning to the French outfit after making 66 appearances for Les Girondis in the fledgling years of his professional career between 2003 and 2005.
In later years, he would move to Liverpool, where he would make 56 appearances in all competitions under Rafa Benitez, before moving on to play for Olympiacos, Watford and several other sides.
The Spain international was suspended by Benitez in 2010 after he had openly criticised the Reds boss and called Liverpool, per The Guardian, a 'sinking ship'.
Riera went on to hang up his boots in 2016, before stepping into management.
Earlier this month, Selles' removal came as a shock to many Hull fans who had just seen their side avoid relegation to the third tier.
Hull went into the final day of the season in the bottom three and a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth was enough to save them, while Selles won nine of his 27 league games in charge.
Speaking after that result, Selles had admitted that the season had been a 'really difficult one'.
Selles had signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Tigers when he quit as Reading's head coach to replace Tim Walter.
Walter had been appointed as successor to Liam Rosenior, who was sacked in May 2024 after guiding Hull to a seventh-placed finish, missing out on the play-offs by three points.
In addition to Riera, former QPR and Rangers boss Michael Beale is also reportedly on the shortlist of candidates to takeover. According to The Sun, he has been interviewed for the post.
Furthermore, it has been claimed that former Newcastle midfielder Emre Belozoglu is another name on the shortlist.