Mohamed Salah makes surprising pick when asked to choose favourite manager with intriguing Liverpool omission

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Mohamed Salah continues to prove age is just a number, enjoying arguably the best season of his career as he helped Liverpool lift the Premier League title. The 2024/25 campaign saw Salah take his appearance tally to over 400 on Merseyside, with 245 goals and 113 assists in that time - so it came as a surprise when he revealed his favourite coach he worked under was not from his Liverpool era.

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Mohamed Salah provided an interesting response when drawn on his favourite coach he has worked under throughout his decorated career.

Salah, 33, is set to continue with Liverpool for the next two campaigns after signing a contract extension during the 2024/25 season - potentially extending his stint to 10 years, at which point he will be 35 years old.

The recent campaign was arguably his best on Merseyside, recording 34 goals and 23 assists in all competitions - guiding Liverpool to the Premier League title and cementing his name firmly in the club's history books.

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His arrival in 2017 spearheaded an era of immense success for the club under Jurgen Klopp - who masterminded Liverpool's 2019/20 Premier League title-winning campaign and worked with Salah at Anfield for seven years prior to his departure in the summer of 2024.

So it was somewhat surprising when the German was not the first name on Salah's lips when asked who had been his favourite coach to work under during his career.

"[Luciano] Spalletti," Salah replied in an interview with Ballon d'Or.

Salah spent a year-and-a-half under Spalletti's tutelage as the forward made his name at Serie A club Roma between 2015 and 17. His spell in the Italian capital, which saw him score 34 times and assist 21 in 83 matches, followed two years at Chelsea in which he was out of favour - making just 19 appearances for the west London club.

Roma finished third and second in those two seasons, with Salah's impressive form then earning him a move to Liverpool - where he enjoyed a stunning breakout season, scoring 44 goals and registering 16 assists.

Spalletti also left Roma that summer, earning a move to become Internazionale's new head coach. His two-year stint at the San Siro was trophyless, but the Italian coach did win the Scudetto in 2023, then in the dug-out of Napoli, before managing Italy for nearly two years.

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Salah also surprises with best team-mate choice

Salah has formed so many great partnerships during his time at Liverpool - none more iconic than with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in an imperious front three of pace, tenacity, and devastating proficiency in front of goal.

But when drawn on who he feels is the best team-mate, he provided yet another intriguing response - drawing on a time in his career in which he was mostly resigned to substitute appearances.

"I didn't play with him in my peak but I would say [Eden] Hazard," Salah said.

Hazard was largely hailed as one of the greatest Premier League wingers of all time in his seven years at Chelsea, despite struggling in his subsequent big-money move to Real Madrid.

The Liverpool talisman was also drawn on his favourite goal during his career - and he noted the chipped equaliser in the first leg of his side's 5-1 aggregate win over Manchester City in the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Despite their dominant run in the league phase, Liverpool were ousted in the round-of-16 in last season's Champions League. Salah noted the European competition as the most significant for him personally, and a deep run in the tournament will surely be a priority for Arne Slot's side next season.

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