Xabi Alonso tipped for Liverpool success by former Bayern Munich team-mate

Cameron Smith

• 7 Feb 2024 05:00 CST
• 3 min read

Peru legend Claudio Pizarro believes that his former Bayern Munich team-mate Xabi Alonso would succeed at Liverpool if he is appointed as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement.

The Spaniard has impressed during his 16-month stint at Bayer Leverkusen so far, and his work in Germany has earned him several admirers from across the European game.

Klopp has announced that he will be stepping down at the end of the 2023-24 season and Alonso is the current favourite to become the next Liverpool manager.

He spent five years as a player at Anfield and memorably scored during their historic win in the 2005 Champions League final. As a result, Liverpool fans are desperate for him to take over when Klopp leaves in June.

Alonso has also been linked with the Chelsea job amid Mauricio Pochettino’s struggles at Stamford Bridge, while Real Madrid - another of his former clubs - have been touted as a possible destination in the future too.

Xabi Alonso tipped for managerial success

Pizarro, who spent one season alongside Alonso at Bayern, believes the Leverkusen coach has what it takes to enjoy years of glory in the dugout.

“I think he [Alonso] can succeed everywhere he wants to go,” Pizarro told FootballTransfers.

“I think what he is doing at the moment at Leverkusen [is excellent], what he did before at Real Sociedad as well.

“When he started you could see he was going to be a great coach. When I played with him, you knew that he was going to be a coach, he was talking to the players, doing that kind of job and you knew that he was a really experienced player and with that he could be a good coach.

“Wherever he wants to go, wherever he decides to go, I think he is going to do really well because he is a great coach, a great person and he was a great player as well - he understands everything about football and that’s very important.”

Alonso’s contract at Bayer Leverkusen runs until 2026, but Liverpool are reportedly monitoring him as they prepare to appoint Klopp’s replacement.