Liverpool continue to be heavily linked with a move to make Xabi Alonso Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Anfield.
Alonso has been doing a terrific job at Bayer Leverkusen since taking over in October 2022. This has led to strong suggestions that he’s the absolute top choice for Liverpool to hire at the end of the season.
One man who knows Alonso pretty well is former Reds teammate Luis Garcia. Having been signed by the Reds on the same day in 2004, Alonso and Garcia will always be inextricably linked. But speaking to CBS Sports Golazo about his countryman, even Garcia said that he has been shocked by how quickly his old pal has picked up management.
“Of course it surprised a lot of us,” admitted Liverpool’s former No.10. “Not because we didn’t think that he was going to become a good manager. Everybody knew about that because he was already managing when he was playing. That personality, that character in the middle of the park, knowing what to do in every single moment. We are talking about a player who’s been in three or four of the biggest clubs in the world winning every single trophy.
“We are talking about one of the biggest midfielders in history. That move to being a manager was always going to be a good one.
“Surprising, yes, because the time is so small but definitely we knew that because of his capacity, the managers he had during his career, he was going to do exactly what he’s doing right now. A fantastic job and we have to give credit to him.”
Garcia surprised by Alonso ascent
As two players who spearheaded Liverpool’s Spanish ‘Rafalution’ under Rafa Benitez in the mid 2000’s, Alonso and Garcia will always be two names put together by Reds supporters.
As a result, with the former so heavily mooted as the next Liverpool manager, the latter was always bound to be consulted.
So far, Garcia has actually been slightly cold to the idea of Alonso taking over at Anfield this summer.
The 45-year-old even suggested that Steven Gerrard should be ahead of the Leverkusen boss in the thinking right now.
The logic behind that particular nugget was that Xabi needs a little more time to hone his skills before rocking back up on Merseyside. That isn’t a view Garcia is alone in, it must be said.
But from our point of view, the timing is virtually perfect. Alonso may be inexperienced, but he’s also shown enough in 18 months of management that he’s got what it takes to succeed.
Moving to Liverpool will of course be a big jump up for the 42-year-old. It looks like one that he’s ready for, though. If not now then when?
Bayern Munich are seemingly very much convinced that Alonso is the right man to take over at the Allianz Arena this summer. If he’s good enough for Bayern then he’s good enough for us.
Xabi’s rise to being the best young coach in Europe might have been a surprise to Garcia, but he looks set for a long and distinguished career on the touchline. Let’s hope a chunk can be spent with Liverpool.
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