The season hasn’t finished yet. Jurgen Klopp is still very much Liverpool’s manager. But already the speculation is rife about his potential successor. There aren’t many names in the running, but a few have emerged as potential candidates.
Among them one name towers above the rest. Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso seems to be the clear favourite to succeed Klopp at the moment. As even Jose Mourinho admitted he has done an ‘extraordinary’ job at Bayer Leverkusen so far.
And he’s only just getting started. Last weekend, his statement victory over Bayern Munich has put his side within touching distance of a remarkable feat in the Bundesliga – to win the league title. On top of that, his side is still the only team in Europe’s top five leagues who are unbeaten in all competitions.
Alonso is simply special on paper, and one former Liverpool player who knows him well has explained exactly why the Spaniard would be a perfect fit.
John Aldridge on Xabi Alonso
Even with all those brilliant achievements behind him, replacing Jurgen Klopp won’t be an easy task for Xabi Alonso. The German is in a league of his own. And there is simply no one who can even compete with Klopp’s character and personality. He is one of a kind.
However, former Liverpool forward, John Aldridge believes Alonso might have what it takes to fill Klopp’s managerial boots. Writing in his Liverpool ECHO column, Aldridge explained that he thought Alonso was the best man for the Liverpool job.
“As a player, he learned from some of the best managers around and won absolutely everything with club and country across a decorated career with the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Spain. All that knowledge has been on display this season at Leverkusen,” Aldridge wrote.
“He’s looked like a class act from the start and I know him fairly well too. He is a top guy. He absolutely loves Liverpool as well, by the way. That matters.
“Of course, whoever comes in to replace Klopp will be a gamble, won’t it? He is the best manager in the world and Liverpool fans wouldn’t swap him for anyone after so long here and with the success he’s had. So whoever comes in will have big shoes to fill. Look at what happened when Alex Ferguson left Manchester United over 10 years ago now. They fell off a cliff and haven’t really got back to where they want to be since after a number of managers. I think Liverpool are in better shape as a squad than the team David Moyes inherited but whoever comes in is a gamble.
“But let me say this, I’ve watched Alonso from his days with my old club Sociedad and he looks the real deal. So why not?”
We have to agree with Aldridge’s analysis. Alonso’s work speaks for itself. But on top of that he also has that connection with the fans. The club’s supporters already respect him. Meanwhile, Alonso understands the expectations that are required at Anfield. Both of those things could come to his aid in the impossible task of replacing Klopp.
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