Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen took another giant stride towards winning the Bundesliga title for the first time in their history on Sunday with a 2-0 win at Koln.
Goals from wing-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo moved Leverkusen 10 points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the league table with just 10 games remaining.
With Leverkusen also in the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal and the last 16 of the Europa League, and without a defeat in 34 matches this season, Alonso could well steer his side to an historic treble this season.
It is little wonder, then, that he is thought to be the preferred choice of both Liverpool and Bayern Munich to become their new manager next season, with both Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel leaving their roles at the end of the season.
Alonso has the qualities to become Liverpool boss
The Spaniard had a successful playing career with both clubs but it is Liverpool he is thought to have the most affinity with.
And with Klopp’s departure leaving huge shoes to fill, both on and off the pitch at Anfield, Alonso’s former Liverpool team-mate Neil Mellor feels he would be the perfect successor.
“Whoever comes in, inherits a really talented group. It’s not the end of a cycle and they are inheriting a young group of talented players,” Mellor told Dexerto Sport, on behalf of Online casino platform, 1337 Games.
How the Bundesliga table looks? Xabi Alonso: “A great situation.”And that his Leverkusen players sound like him? “Glad we are on the same page. ☺️” pic.twitter.com/KvPBa2UDfw
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) March 3, 2024
“Konate is 24, Gravenberch is 21, Harvey Elliott is 20, Curtis Jones is 23, Conor Bradley’s coming through.
“Xabi has an advantage over most other candidates because of the connection he has with the fans. The fans absolutely loved him as a player and from my point of view of having him in the dressing room, he was genuine, he was honest and being that humble would suit him as a Liverpool manager.
“I think he is very young in his coaching career, I think he is destined for big things as a coach and whether the time is right for him and Liverpool now will be interesting.
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“There is no doubt he has done extremely well at Leverkusen. They were nowhere near it when he inherited them and it is not just the league position, it is his brand of football as well which has been really entertaining to watch so I think that favours him.
“But I love Xabi. He was so likeable and not just because he was such a top player, but his personality as well which will go a long way in his favour with Liverpool fans.”
Alonso’s managerial influences
During a playing career that saw Alonso take in spells with Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and the Spanish national side, Alonso played under some of the best managers in the world.
And Mellor feels that has stood him in good stead in the early stages of his managerial career.
“He has been a winner all his career. If you look at some of the managers he has played for: John Toshack, Rafa Benitez, Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti.
“They are some of the best managers in world football and he would have taken a bit from each of them and learned from them.
“He was a top player but who knows how he will handle managing at a huge football club. He is at a decent one now in Bayer Leverkusen but he doesn’t have the pressure or expectation to win things like he would do at Liverpool.
“But he has shown during his career that he embraces those sorts of challenges because he is a winner.”
Neil Mellor was speaking to Dexerto on behalf of Online casino platform, 1337 Games.