A forty-one-year-old manager was advised to quit Liverpool and take a “dream” job instead.
Legendary German coach Lothar Matthaus believes Xabi Alonso may pass up the opportunity to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Premier League powerhouse Liverpool in favor of the Real Madrid position.
There may be quite the competition this summer for some of Europe’s brightest young tactical minds, with Jurgen Klopp departing Liverpool, Xavi growing weary of the pressure in the Barcelona dugout, and the likes of Erik ten Hag, Mauricio Pochettino, and Thomas Tuchel questioning their own futures.
HITC Football has learned that Liverpool has identified Xabi Alonso, Roberto de Zerbi, Thomas Frank, and Ange Postecoglou as possible successors as they formulate a succession plan following Klopp’s departure.
Lothar Matthaus, the 1990 World Cup winner and winner of the Ballon d’Or, has a sneaking suspicion, though, that Alonso might decline the opportunity to return to Merseyside because there are rumors that he is being developed at Real Madrid, a massive Spanish team, to eventually succeed Carlo Ancelotti.
“We hear that Real Madrid is his dream club, but Carlo Ancelotti has extended his contract there. Liverpool and Barcelona are looking for a coach, but a move to one of these clubs would probably ruin the Madrid option in the long term. This aspect could play into Leverkusen’s hands so that Alonso fulfils his contract.” Matthaus writes in his Sky Germany column that “Regardless of the outcome of the league, I could imagine him staying in Leverkusen.”
Despite the best efforts of Harry Kane and company at Bayern Munich, Leverkusen remains two points clear at the top of the Bundesliga after their 2-0 victory at Darmstadt on Sunday. Alonso’s exuberant, free-flowing Leverkusen team is also undefeated across all categories, with the Spaniard’s impact evident in each brilliant, all-encompassing team play.
It will be difficult to replace Jurgen Klopp.
“Alonso was a player leader for his teams. He resembled the on-field coach at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool FC. Although Tuchel wasn’t a particularly good player, he was a successful coach who won major awards, Mathaus continues, noting that he was more impressed with Alonso’s work at the Bay Arena than the former Chelsea manager was at the Allianz.
“With FC Bayern, Tuchel has already amassed an incredible amount of points that will ultimately crown them champions. But thus far, Leverkusen has shown even more strength.
This season, I have seen Alonso’s play style and ideas in Bayer 04 every time. Although I can see more of Alonso’s signature, Tuchel has his as well.
“Alonso’s first coaching position is at Leverkusen, but he has had a significant impact on his team.”
