Rafa Benitez is not surprised to see his former Liverpool playmaker Xabi Alonso emerge as an elite-level coach with a return to the Premier League giants on the cards for the Bayer Leverkusen boss.
Even Jurgen Klopp, a two-time Bundesliga champion with Borussia Dortmund, could not do what Xabi Alonso has done on German soil.
While beating Mainz 2-1 last week, Bayer Leverkusen extended their unbeaten league run to a staggering 33 matches. A national record, overtaking the tally of 32 set by Hansi Flick’s treble-winning Bayern Munich side a few years ago.
Benitez, who coached a Liverpool side containing Alonso to Champions League glory back in 2005, is certainly not too surprised by the Spaniard’s emergence as arguably Europe’s most exciting young tactician, HITC Football understanding that The Reds have identified the 41-year-old as their first choice to step into Klopp’s shoes at Anfield.
Liverpool want Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso
Some players are just ‘born to coach’. And Alonso, who almost operated as a manager on the field in his playing days due to his ability to control proceedings from his deep-lying playmaker role, is putting the lessons he learned from Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, Vicente del Bosque and Benitez to very good use in the Leverkusen dugout.
“He was clever and analysed (the game). When you explain things to some players, you have to repeat. Xabi was one who learned quickly,” Benitez, now in La Liga with struggling Celta Vigo, tells The Guardian.
“He’s a big name. (A) good professional, good lad, clever, doing really well. So I understand why (Liverpool are keen).”
Benitez, however, is not ready to proclaim Alonso the man to inherit Klopp’s throne, pointing out that – not so long ago – it was another iconic former Liverpool midfielder who was the first name on the lips of fans and pundits alike.
“(But) imagine Steven Gerrard was around and doing well,” Benitez adds, the legendary captain now in Saudi Arabia three years after guiding Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title. “Then it would be; ‘Gerrard!’
“With social media everything is going too fast, so people don’t see the big picture.”
Jurgen Klopp will take some replacing
HITC understands that Liverpool are ‘quietly confident’ of snapping up Alonso from under the nose of another of his former clubs. Bayern are keen, and will part with Thomas Tuchel in the summer. There is interest in Roberto de Zerbi, Julian Nagelsmann and Ruben Amorim too.
Thomas Frank of Brentford and Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou have also been linked.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
