Xabi Alonso's message to Jurgen Klopp nine years ago has been uncovered by eagle-eyed fans.
The footballing world has been left in shock after it was revealed that Liverpool's manager will leave the club at the end of the season.
It will bring down the curtain on nine years in English football, which saw him win the Premier League, Champions League, the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
The 56-year-old claimed he is 'running out of energy' and hinted that he may never manage in football ever again.
Many fans have now suggested that former Reds midfielder Alonso could be the man to replace Klopp.
The Bayern Leverkusen manager has been mightily impressive so far in the Bundesliga, as his side sit top of the league table.
And he is now appearing as the frontrunner to replace him, with the bookies making him the favourite.
If Alonso does indeed become Liverpool's manager, perhaps it can be traced back to the moment the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich player gave Klopp his blessing when he joined Liverpool.
In October 2015, Alonso posted a picture of Klopp with the caption: 'Welcome to the Liverpool family. YNWA Mr. Klopp!!'
Following Klopp's announcement that he is leaving, fans commented beneath his tweet saying: 'Looks like you are next to do it Xabi.'
Another joked: 'Welcome to Liverpool family. YNWA Mr. Alonso!!! Can’t wait to say this.'
A third also added: 'Get ready sir, your time has come,' while a fourth commented: 'We need that xabi ball next season the league doesn't know we are just getting started. The beginning of an era.'
Recently, Mail Plus analysed the obsessive coach who was once the prince of Liverpool's midfield and may now become the king of Anfield.
When he was appointed in early October, 2022, Leverkusen were in the relegation zone. Today, they proudly sit top of the Bundesliga on 48 points, four clear of Harry Kane and company.
'We have got our position but we have this passion, this will, to continue doing the right things,' Alonso tells Mail Sport. 'Maybe in the future we can do something nice. We will see. But we don't look ahead. We go step by step. That is in our DNA – how we are going to work things out.'
'This is my task, my job, my passion – this is what I am enjoying doing,' he says. 'I like to be close to the players, for sure, trying new things and making sure they have this commitment. We have to get the message across that each session is important.
'It means something, the things we are doing are for a reason. We have been working together now with most of the guys for one year and two months and the dynamic now is quite good. That is what we have to do, to keep that focus.
'The message is that we have to be the best version of ourselves, from Monday to Friday, so we are ready for Saturday. I want to be close to them, talking to them, on the pitch and off the pitch. But, at the same time, we can never be too relaxed.'
