XABI ALONSO has undoubtedly developed into the hottest young coach in world football.
But could he be about to make the very big step up as the next Liverpool manager?
Jurgen Klopp stunned the Premier League by announcing his shock exit from Anfield at the end of the season.
Alonso immediately emerged as the early favourite to succeed him in the dugout - and it is not hard to see why.
The former Spain maestro only took over the German side Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022, with the club in a relegation battle.
Now they are flying high at top of the Bundesliga, leaving Bayern Munich in their wake.
However, looking at the league table only tells part of the story with Leverkusen also being one of the most exciting and progressive sides in European football.
Having played under the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez, there is no doubt Alonso enjoyed a second-to-none education enhanced by his natural curiosity for the finer details.
After hanging up his boots Alonso took his first job coaching Real Sociedad B in Spain's lower leagues, far away from the media spotlight.
He eventually signed for Leverkusen early in last season with a project to rebuild their campaign.
Little more than a year later and Leverkusen are one of the most interesting teams in the game with not only an incredibly incisive attack but a solid and well-put-together defence.
Despite being relatively young and inexperienced as a coach, the narrative now is that Alonso will be the first choice for whichever super club parts ways with their coach first - and that proved to be Liverpool.
Though that does not mean Alonso will jump at the first offer should the Reds come calling.
We have already seen him remain patient as he waited for the right opportunity and that raises a few interesting questions.
Would a return to Merseyside be the right opportunity and next step?
Is this the ideal situation for Liverpool?
Klopp will certainly go down as one of the most successful and popular coaches in the club's history but, when he leaves, Liverpool fans will be heavily in favour of appointing a coach who has such a strong connection to the club.
Alonso played 210 times for the Reds, scoring 19 goals, and winning four trophies - including that famous Champions League triumph in 2005, in which he scored.
Klopp, when he was at Mainz and Dortmund, and Alonso share a proactive approach to their coaching, with both favouring attacking football at tempo and connection to their players.
However, Alonso is better at creating a dominant attacking structure than Klopp was when he first moved to England.
So far this season at Leverkusen have used their advanced midfielders and wing-backs to really push forward and occupy more advanced attacking spaces.
Leverkusen create a lot of danger in possession with the way they move players into high positions early, as they look to stretch the width of the pitch.
This forces the opposition to defend in a wider structure and creates space centrally for their advanced midfielders to exploit.
One of the flaws in this current Liverpool system - for all the Prem leaders have impressed so far this season - is they are sometimes too slow to push midfield players into more advanced areas since moving to a ball-dominant system.
This is despite Liverpool having moved on from a more functional midfield with the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson departing.
One of the other key tactical concepts behind Alonso's Leverkusen team has been the way they set up out of possession and defend with aggression in transition.
Why Alonso fits the Anfield bill
By Dan King
XABI ALONSO ticks almost every box to succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager, and if Bayer Leverkusen don't let their lead at the top of the Bundesliga slip the case for him to do so will be irresistible.
The former Kop idol knows the club inside out after five seasons at Anfield and has made no secret of his enduring affection.
Alonso has already forged a reputation as an innovative coach playing an attractive, pressing style, usually in a fluid 3-4-2-1 formation.
He has taken Leverkusen from second bottom of the Bundesliga to seven points clear at the top, putting them on course to be crowned German champions for the first time in their 120-year history.
It's worth remembering that both Rafa Benitez and Klopp arrived at Anfield with proof they could dethrone clubs who dominated their leagues.
For Alonso to do the same, in only his second season as a top-flight manager, would mark him out as something special.
It is that lack of long-term experience that would still make appointing him to replace Klopp a gamble.
But otherwise, he looks like the perfect candidate as Liverpool are forced to plan a future without the man who made them champions of England, Europe and the world.
Leverkusen press and counter press aggressively in an attempt to win the ball back as close to the opposition goal as possible.
For this to work at Leverkusen, Alonso has made use of pace in the attack and in the wide areas.
Alonso likes his team to control possession but also to have the option of using pace to quickly attack space behind the opposition's defensive line.
Finally, Alonso has set Leverkusen up is the way they play in a compact style in possession.
This means the central defenders and wingbacks move extremely high in the attacking phase to force the opposition back which in turn allows the central midfielders to move into attacking positions.
This then allows the central midfielders to move into more advanced attacking positions.
Rinkachi2221
0
The problem with English football is that they do not have skill. To play in EPL is easy because you kick the ball anyhow and anywhere. No system. There football is about talking. Xabi should have remained in Germany or go to Spain where football is about skill
No worries..Xabi is still in Germany... Your last sentence..as if he was already out of Germany...
Kebadeirs
1
The problem with English football is that they do not have skill. To play in EPL is easy because you kick the ball anyhow and anywhere. No system. There football is about talking. Xabi should have remained in Germany or go to Spain where football is about skill
suhacdiosu
0
Is better to stay there and make leverkusen a great team and legendary
suhacdiosu
1
Stay at your leverkusen
Zuwabesz
0
Alonso we are all waiting for you YNWA
Tetacluyz
1
Leave XAVI ALONSO alone he is doing well and enjoying his club did not bring this your ENGLISH media to come and spoil lot or poison him with too much talk to turn his attention from his work aloww him to settle well in Germany
mio17
1
he won't come
leceilptuz
0
He is about to make mistakes by Filling in Klopp boots... don't come
nihaemrtuy
0
Ole solkjear managed Man United got fired Frank lampard managed Chelsea got fired Xabi Alonso about to manage Liverpool ππ hope I'm making sense or i keep quiet?
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Tim Sherwood managed spurs Mason managed spurs it only works in Spanish league
vidaeikuz
0
The point iam proving here is that English football especially premier league isn't easy.. Company was winning at championship which different to EpLas well as Alonso is winning in Bundesliga which is different from Epl once more.. Company is in EpL n he understands now hw difficult it is to win in EPL just like Alonso he is going to find it difficult to win.. U don't work up n say I will go in England n win EPL. It takes experience..
look at pep how he struggled when he came in England but he was a great manager in Laliga.. Untill he got experience then he is nailing it.. Liverpool will on chase him..
nihaemrtuy
0
You suddenly appoint him with Liverpool owners approval ππ
vidaeikuz
0
The point iam proving here is that English football especially premier league isn't easy.. Company was winning at championship which different to EpLas well as Alonso is winning in Bundesliga which is different from Epl once more.. Company is in EpL n he understands now hw difficult it is to win in EPL just like Alonso he is going to find it difficult to win.. U don't work up n say I will go in England n win EPL. It takes experience..
If u can't understand me think before u write anything back to me.. I know football than u think..
vidaeikuz
0
You donβt make sense sir, kompany was in the championship league and he won the title and gain promotion to the EPL.. how is he not winning his fault sir? Think before you speak.. so as he won and gained promotion to EPL he should tell them they are still going to remain in the championship and play to prove what??? You donβt know football at all
The point iam proving here is that English football especially premier league isn't easy.. Company was winning at championship which different to EpLas well as Alonso is winning in Bundesliga which is different from Epl once more.. Company is in EpL n he understands now hw difficult it is to win in EPL just like Alonso he is going to find it difficult to win.. U don't work up n say I will go in England n win EPL. It takes experience..
cunabelmtu
0
I think Alonso shud stick with leverkusen coz if he comes to Liverpool, he knows why other coaches like Vincent kampany and others have find it difficult to win when they where winning in other leagues...
You donβt make sense sir, kompany was in the championship league and he won the title and gain promotion to the EPL.. how is he not winning his fault sir? Think before you speak.. so as he won and gained promotion to EPL he should tell them they are still going to remain in the championship and play to prove what??? You donβt know football at all
SAH7
0
xabi alonsa playing 3-4-2-1 at Bayer and I don't think he'll do that in Liv, if he do, I think he's going to suffer at liv
lightrex
0
Ole solkjear managed Man United got fired Frank lampard managed Chelsea got fired Xabi Alonso about to manage Liverpool ππ hope I'm making sense or i keep quiet?
[image]
u guys Should appoint Rooney at Man Utd & lets prove your point
senbcklnoy
1
if you come to Liverpool the first session they will sack you make it and see
siwbeklnr
4
media please leave this young man let him do his job
hahelnprt
0
Liverpool FC π΄βͺ should appoint xabi alonso as a new manager ππ―
besacelmpy
0
Xabi is a bit of a gamble but so too was Klopp, he had never been proven in EPL. I say go for it with Xabi, he's style compliments Klopp's so the players would adjust relatively easily. A more experienced manager may completely alter the style of play. Xabi in.
besacelmpy
0
Ole solkjear managed Man United got fired Frank lampard managed Chelsea got fired Xabi Alonso about to manage Liverpool ππ hope I'm making sense or i keep quiet?
[image]
Artetta at Arsenal.
vidaeikuz
0
Stay with leverkusen, get more experience n then come and try English club.. It's not easy biggie
vidaeikuz
1
I think Alonso shud stick with leverkusen coz if he comes to Liverpool, he knows why other coaches like Vincent kampany and others have find it difficult to win when they where winning in other leagues...
AbdulZaks008
0
Ole solkjear managed Man United got fired Frank lampard managed Chelsea got fired Xabi Alonso about to manage Liverpool ππ hope I'm making sense or i keep quiet?
[image]
Xavi at barca
Obarry
5
Romano Here we go Erik ten hag to Liverpool Deal done β on till 20230
OLAGYDE004
4
Ole solkjear managed Man United got fired Frank lampard managed Chelsea got fired Xabi Alonso about to manage Liverpool ππ hope I'm making sense or i keep quiet?
kosaclmru
1
too young compared to klopps experience
HMSD
2
Should be the next Liverpool Manager [byebye]
mdGombe
2
The LEGEND!!!