Ex-Liverpool star emerges as leading contender for EFL job

Former Liverpool winger Albert Riera is a leading contender to become the next Hull City manager, talkSPORT understands. Former Sunderland and Rangers boss Michael Beale has been interviewed by Hull for the vacancy while ex-Newcastle midfielder Emre Belozoglu was on the club’s four-man shortlist. Riera is in a great position to succeed Ruben Selles at Hull CityGetty The Tigers are on the lookout for a new man in charge after they parted ways with Ruben Selles at the end of the season. Selles had steered Hull to Championship safety on the final day but it was not enough to save his job. The Spaniard was the third manager to be dismissed by Hull owner Acun Ilicali in the last year along with Liam Rosenior and Tim Walter. Riera is in charge of NK Celje, who are fourth in Slovenia’s top flight going into the final day. He steered the club to an impressive quarter-final berth in the Europa Conference League despite finishing 21st out of 36 teams in the league phase. After beating Cypriot side APOEL in the knockout play-off, Celje beat Swiss side Lugano via penalties in the last 16. It represented a big upset for Riera’s side given Lugano finished sixth in the league phase. However, they could not progress beyond the final eight as they lost 4-3 on aggregate to Serie A side Fiorentina, who had been Conference League runners-up for the last two seasons. Celje is the third team Riera has managed alongside Slovenian club NK Olimpija Ljubljana as well as French side Bordeaux. Riera began his managerial career with Olimpija in July 2022 and went on to win the league title in his first season. Hull owner Acun Ilicali has displayed a ruthless streak when it comes to managersGetty It was the first time Olimpija had won the Slovenian top flight since 2018. Olimpija secured the double with a win over Maribor in the Slovenian Cup. Riera then moved to Celje for the first of his two stints at the club in July 2023 but lasted 17 games in charge before he abruptly quit in October 2023 and became Bordeaux manager a day later. He steered Bordeaux to a 12th-place finish in Ligue 2 but due to financial woes, the club was relegated to the Championnat National, the third tier of French football. Riera subsequently returned to Celje ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. As a player, Riera spent two seasons with Liverpool where he registered five goals and nine assists across 56 appearances in all competitions. Riera enjoyed a 16-year playing career and won 16 caps for SpainGetty The 43-year-old also enjoyed lengthy stints with Espanyol, Galatasaray and Bordeaux during his playing career.

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Ex-Liverpool star emerges as leading contender for EFL job

Former Liverpool winger Albert Riera is a leading contender to become the next Hull City manager, talkSPORT understands.

Former Sunderland and Rangers boss Michael Beale has been interviewed by Hull for the vacancy while ex-Newcastle midfielder Emre Belozoglu was on the club’s four-man shortlist.

Riera is in a great position to succeed Ruben Selles at Hull City

The Tigers are on the lookout for a new man in charge after they parted ways with Ruben Selles at the end of the season.

Selles had steered Hull to Championship safety on the final day but it was not enough to save his job.

The Spaniard was the third manager to be dismissed by Hull owner Acun Ilicali in the last year along with Liam Rosenior and Tim Walter.

Riera is in charge of NK Celje, who are fourth in Slovenia’s top flight going into the final day.

He steered the club to an impressive quarter-final berth in the Europa Conference League despite finishing 21st out of 36 teams in the league phase.

After beating Cypriot side APOEL in the knockout play-off, Celje beat Swiss side Lugano via penalties in the last 16.

It represented a big upset for Riera’s side given Lugano finished sixth in the league phase.

However, they could not progress beyond the final eight as they lost 4-3 on aggregate to Serie A side Fiorentina, who had been Conference League runners-up for the last two seasons.

Celje is the third team Riera has managed alongside Slovenian club NK Olimpija Ljubljana as well as French side Bordeaux.

Riera began his managerial career with Olimpija in July 2022 and went on to win the league title in his first season.

Hull owner Acun Ilicali has displayed a ruthless streak when it comes to managers

It was the first time Olimpija had won the Slovenian top flight since 2018.

Olimpija secured the double with a win over Maribor in the Slovenian Cup.

Riera then moved to Celje for the first of his two stints at the club in July 2023 but lasted 17 games in charge before he abruptly quit in October 2023 and became Bordeaux manager a day later.

He steered Bordeaux to a 12th-place finish in Ligue 2 but due to financial woes, the club was relegated to the Championnat National, the third tier of French football.

Riera subsequently returned to Celje ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

As a player, Riera spent two seasons with Liverpool where he registered five goals and nine assists across 56 appearances in all competitions.

Riera enjoyed a 16-year playing career and won 16 caps for Spain

The 43-year-old also enjoyed lengthy stints with Espanyol, Galatasaray and Bordeaux during his playing career.