08 March 2024 , 02:00
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Xabi Alonso may be the current favourite to become Liverpool's next manager, but the Spaniard has previously tipped his former team-mate Steven Gerrard to take on the role one day.
Current Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will step down at the end of the season and the search is underway for his successor. Alonso is among the frontrunners, having done an outstanding job at Bayer Leverkusen who sit ten points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga.
However, the Spaniard once backed Gerrard to get the top job at Anfield, having previously played alongside him at Liverpool for five years. "I'm following the early steps of his career closely," Alonso said back in 2017 after presenting Gerrard with the Legend of Football Award.
"For sure he has all the attributes to become a big manager and a Liverpool manager one day. To have someone with his knowledge [will help Liverpool's youngsters]. But it's different, you can be a great player but being a manager is a different task.
"He's really focused and if he's able to deliver that message he will be a good one." At the time, Gerrard had just taken his first steps in coaching by returning to Liverpool to work with their academy while Alonso had not long retired from playing.
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Gerrard then took his first managerial job in 2018 when he joined Rangers, going on to guide them to the Scottish Premiership title in 2021. However, his stint in Scotland was followed by a disappointing spell in charge of Aston Villa and he is now managing Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.
Alonso, meanwhile, started his coaching career in 2019 at Real Sociedad B and got them promoted in his second season in charge. He then joined Leverkusen in 2022 and has transformed them into title challengers.
And former Liverpool star Patrik Berger, who made almost 200 appearances for the Reds, believes Alonso "could be the right man" to replace Klopp. "He's doing a remarkable job at Leverkusen," Berger told Betway.
"One massive factor as well is he played for Liverpool, so he knows the city, he knows what it means to play for Liverpool. He's been an unbelievable footballer; he's been learning from Ancelotti.
"He's been learning from Guardiola. Alonso could be the right man for the job. He will have the fans behind him straight away. But I have no idea what other candidates there could be as no one stands out."
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