When Jurgen Klopp announced that he would step down as Liverpool coach at the end of the 2023-2024 season, the public and media began to find out who the next Reds coach would be. Several rose to the surface.
Names such as Roberto De Zerbi, Steven Gerrard, Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Zinedine Zidane, Julian Nagelsmann, Hansi Flick, to Xabi Alonso.
It will not be easy to train Liverpool after the Klopp era, who has coached Liverpool since 2015, especially to maintain the strength of the team to remain respected in England and Europe. Klopp’s legacy is not just trophies, but also the quality of playing the club.
Among these names, Alonso is at the forefront as the ideal candidate to replace Klopp. The Spaniard is a former Liverpool player, is still young, and has a football philosophy that suits the club.
Moreover, his performance is currently under the spotlight in Europe as coach of Bayer Leverkusen. His team has 29 matches, 25 wins, four draws, no defeats, 87 goals scored and 20 goals conceded.
Dietmar Hamann, a former Liverpool midfielder who has played with Alonso, thinks the Real Madrid legend is suitable to coach Liverpool. Hamann revealed the reason.
“I think if anyone can do it (replace Klopp), it’s Xabi. He is loved by many, he is a brilliant player and what he did at Leverkusen was incredible,” Hamann told TalkSport.
“Obviously there are dangers to chasing Klopp, the pressure and expectations will be high, but I think they will have a team – if they stick together – that competes for the Premier League next season.”
“People talk about De Zerbi, (Ange) Postecoglou, Liverpool is different and he (Alonso) knows what the club is like, he is 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 Klopp’s success is determined by the relationship he has established with the players, fans and the city, he changed the mentality of the whole city,” he concluded.