Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool could be coming to an end soon and the club are lining up a move for a highly-rated coach in the Bundesliga – someone they know very well
Liverpool have identified the perfect Jurgen Klopp replacement (Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool will consider hiring Xabi Alonso as manager when Jurgen Klopp eventually leaves the club – and he shouldn’t be too hard to snap up either.
The former Reds midfielder has been making waves at Bayer Leverkusen, who are currently top of the Bundesliga after winning all three of their opening matches of the domestic season, and Liverpool are monitoring his progress closely.
Klopp’s Anfield contract doesn’t expire until 2026, but after nearly a decade in the job there are rumblings the former Dortmund man might be looking for a new challenge and rumours of an impending exit have intensified in the wake of Germany’s sacking of Hansi Flick.
Should Klopp leave, Liverpool will be free to approach Alonso as, according to German outlet Bild, he has a ‘secret agreement’ with Leverkusen, which allows him to leave the club whenever he wants.
Alonso joined Leverkusen in October last year following a three-year stint in charge of Real Sociedad B. Like Klopp, his contract runs until 2026, but it’s understood the club will not stand in his way if a ‘suitable offer’ is made for him before then.
The 41-year-old has won 22 of his 42 games in charge of the 2002 Champions League finalists, having taking them from battling relegation to challenging for European places in less than a year.
Xabi Alonso has been impressing at Bayer Leverkusen (Image: Getty Images)
Alonso spent five seasons at Liverpool as a player, having joined from Real Sociedad in 2004. He won the Champions League in his first year at the club, scoring the equaliser in an epic 3-3 draw with AC Milan in the final, and was also part of their FA Cup-winning side in 2006.
He left in 2009 for Real Madrid, where he won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League again, before moving on to Bayern Munich in 2014. Three Bundesliga titles followed over the next three seasons before Alonso hung up his boots, aged 35.
The midfield maestro also earned more than 100 caps for Spain, and formed part of the generation-defining side that won three major tournaments in a row; Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
