Klopp Hints At Alonso As Preferred Candidate For Liverpool Job
Jurgen Klopp has hinted his preferred candidate to take his place as Liverpool manager at the end of the season is Xabi Alonso.
Klopp announced last month that he will leave Liverpool after nine years this summer.
Alonso is currently in charge of Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, who are in the midst of an unlikely title charge as they are five points clear of perennial winners Bayern Munich on the table.
Leverkusen are unbeaten across all competitions this season and are into the knockout rounds of the Europa League and semi-final stage of the DFB-Pokal.
Former Spain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder Alonso, also starred for Liverpool for five seasons and won the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup during his time at Anfield.
"Xabi is doing an incredible job," said Klopp on Friday.
"How quick his team is that well tuned, for the time it's taken, he's put his proper stamp on it," said Klopp.
"The next generation is already there and I would say Xabi is a standout in that department.
"[He is a] former world-class player, from a coaching family as well, which helps a little, he was like a coach already when he was playing.
"The football he is playing, the teams he sets up, the transfers he did, it is absolutely exceptional.
"If you would have asked me eight weeks ago about Xabi Alonso, I would have gone 'Oh my God!' Always what I said.
"The 'dinosaurs' if you want, [Carlo] Ancelotti, [Jose] Mourinho, [Pep] Guardiola, maybe me, we will not [manage] for the next 20 years - OK, maybe Mourinho will do it - but all the rest will not."
Alonso has a contract with Leverkusen until the summer of 2026.
