The Liverpool job may come too soon for former Premier League star Xabi Alonso with Danny Murphy mulling over who should eventually take Jurgen Klopp’s place in the Anfield dugout.
It’s fair to say the 2010 World Cup winner could hardly have had a better preparation for life in the dugout.
Having learned his trade under Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benitez, Jose Mourinho, Vicente del Bosque and co, Xabi Alonso spent much of his playing career under some of the finest tactical minds of the modern era. And the early signs suggest that he is putting all that wisdom to good use in the Bundesliga.
Alonso took over a Bayer Leverkusen side glancing nervously over their shoulder at the relegation zone a year ago. Nearly 12 months on, that very same side are now sitting pretty in top spot; four wins from four in all competitions, while scoring a staggering 19 goals along the way.
And, like Steven Gerrard when guiding Rangers to Scottish Premiership glory, Alonso’s name is starting to be mentioned regularly in conjunction with the Liverpool job; Klopp’s contract expiring in just two years’ time.
Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso impressing in Bundesliga
Former Anfield icon Danny Murphy has been impressed by the way Alonso has imparted his stamp on a thrilling Leverkusen side. But the 41-year-old, he says, still has a long way to go before he is worthy of one of Europe’s biggest coaching roles.
“(Alonso is) doing well. But, other than his Liverpool connections and the fact he was a great player and the fans like him for that, he hasn’t managed in the Premier League. He hasn’t managed as long in many different countries and in many jobs,” Murphy tells talkSPORT (13 September, 10am).
“From a managerial perspective, as we sit today, although Alonso is possibly good, I think it would be a bigger risk to take Alonso.”
Murphy tips Roberto de Zerbi for Anfield job
Murphy believes Roberto de Zerbi is currently the ‘perfect’ candidate to take Klopp’s place later down the line.
The Brighton boss, he says, is proven in the Premier League. He plays the sort of free-flowing, all-action football the Liverpool fans like. And he also possesses the ‘gravitas’ required from anyone looking to step into the shoes of one of Anfield’s biggest legends.
“The problem you’ve got, when Klopp leaves, is to keep Liverpool really competitive whilst winning some trophies, and also engaging the Liverpool public in the way Klopp has,” Murphy argues.
“That’s one of the keys to his success; that charisma he has, the personality and how to get the fans on board from a very, very early part of his reign. Even before he won anything!
“That’s not an easy thing to do.”
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