For many Liverpool fans, there is only one man that would be an acceptable successor to Jurgen Klopp’s throne: Xabi Alonso.
Alonso has become the newest managerial force in European football, taking Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen from relegation-threatened to serious title contenders in the space of 12 months.
And after Klopp shocked the sporting world by announcing his intention to leave Anfield come the end of the season, all eyes turned to former Liverpool maestro Alonso, the obvious choice to take the German’s place in the Reds dugout.
Despite Bayer 04 only being his first top-flight managerial job, Alonso is good value for his links with the Liverpool job, among others.
Currently two points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the table, Leverkusen haven’t wavered from their goal of ending Bayern’s decade-plus reign of terror over the Bundesliga – remaining unbeaten after 20 games this campaign.
And after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Darmstadt, Alonso has set a new club record at the helm of Die Werkself.
Bayer Leverkusen have now gone 29 games without defeat, the longest unbeaten run in the history of the club.
In reaching this feat, they also move within just three games of Bayern Munich’s unbeaten record.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out why Liverpool fans and club executives alike are keen to align themselves with Alonso, with the former Red looking poised to become the next managerial titan to take Europe by storm.
As such, Liverpool are far from the only footballing giant interested in his services. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, both similarly his former employers, are also widely reported to be keeping tabs on Alonso’s future.
However, before he can start thinking about next moves, Alonso still has a job to did in the Bundesliga – and his side’s next clash will prove pivotal their hopes of writing themselves into the history books.
Hosting Bayern in a title race six-pointer on February 10, Bayer’s hopes of records and silverware could well hinge on whether they can live up to the occasion against a side who only know how to win in Germany’s top flight.
