9 months ago
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Xabi Alonso is currently the bookmakers’ favourite to become Liverpool’s next manager, and one of his former teammates isn’t surprised at all.
The Spaniard is, unexpectedly, topping the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen ahead of Bayern Munich, and is seen as a natural successor for Jurgen Klopp.
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Klopp announced that he will be stepping down at the end of the season, leaving a legacy that even the bravest of coaches would be weary about living up to.
However, former Germany international Didi Hamann is convinced that his former midfield partner at Anfield has what it takes.
“I think if anyone can do it it’s Xabi,” Hamann told talkSPORT. “He’s loved by the people, he’s been a brilliant player and what he’s doing at Leverkusen is exceptional.
“Obviously there’s a danger to going in after Klopp, the pressure and the expectations will be high, but I think they will have a team - if they keep them together - that competes for the Premier League next season.
“People talk about [Roberto] De Zerbi, [Ange] Postecoglou, Liverpool is different and he [Alonso] knows what the club is like, he’s loved by the fans, for me I think he would be the ideal choice. If he sees it the same way, I’m not too sure.
“If you look at Liverpool, Liverpool is a special and unique club and I think the success of Klopp was down to the relationship he’s had with the players, the fans and the city, he changed the mentality in the whole city.”
Alonso took over at the BayArena in November 2022, having only previously coached Real Sociedad’s youth team.
He took the German side out of a relegation battle and into the European places, and the only way has been up this season.
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Leverkusen are unbeaten in all competitions this term with 25 wins from 29, and a whopping 87 goals scored in that time.
Explaining what makes the team so special, Hamann said: “They just play fantastic football.
Xabi Alonso revealed his desire and dream of managing Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp to Guillem Balague back in 2018
“I think what he does is gives a lot of players an awful lot of confidence because they had some good players before, but when he took over they were third or fourth from bottom last year, within six or 12 months he turned them into title contenders.
“They play Bayern Munich on Saturday which is a big one, and some of the players look like new players. He gives them responsibility, and if you give players responsibility most of the time they do pay it back.
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“In [Florian] Wirtz they have probably got the best German player in their team, [Victor] Boniface they brought in from Belgium and he’s scoring goals, and they also lost four or five players to the Africa Cup of Nations. They’re coming back slowly now and [what makes him special is] he’s a man manager.”
Asked if Leverkusen can do the incredible and end Bayern’s 11-year league winning streak, Hamann added: “They have a chance, I think they won’t get beaten next week and they’ll go into the final games with a lead.
“If they were to win the league it would be sensational, and maybe if he wins it he’ll think ‘this is as far as I can go, let’s take up a new challenge’ Liverpool is different, can he do it? I think if anyone can do it after Klopp it will be him.”
