Almost as soon as Jurgen Klopp had announced his shock decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, discussion turned towards who could succeed the legendary German as Reds manager. One name quickly rose to the top of most speculative shortlists – Xabi Alonso. Many expect he’ll take over at Anfield this summer.
Alonso is currently doing an exceptional job at Bayer Leverkusen with his team leading the Bundesliga title race. On top of this, Leverkusen are playing a brand of exciting, entertaining football that has naturally led to suggestions that Alonso would be a natural fit for the Liverpool manager’s position.
There are, however, subtle differences in the way Alonso and Klopp view the game. While the former favours a possession-orientated approach, the latter is more direct in his methods. Leverkusen like to play a lot of short passes in the centre of the pitch whereas Liverpool have the option to go long into the likes of Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez.
And this is what makes Alonso perfect for Liverpool post-Klopp. The Reds will never find a direct replacement for Klopp. The German has electrified the Anfield support in a way no Liverpool manager has since the days of Bill Shankly. It is unrealistic to expect a similar figure to be appointed this summer.
Several big clubs have tried – and failed – to replace legendary managers with clones. Most famously, Manchester United replaced Sir Alex Ferguson with David Moyes in the belief that the Scot would be a similar sort of leader. That, of course, didn’t work out and Moyes was gone before the end of the season.
By hiring Alonso, Liverpool would strike the right balance between appointing someone who can use the foundations left behind by Klopp and someone who can build something new in their own image. Alonso’s ideas might take time to take root at Anfield, but a new challenge could be good for Liverpool’s squad.
It could be argued the timing of Klopp’s departure will make it more difficult for his successor to mould Liverpool in their own image. Last summer might have been a more convenient point for the German to step aside with the Reds now midway through a reconstruction project that has been largely led by Klopp.
Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were all signed in last summer’s transfer window, giving Liverpool fresh legs and creativity in the centre of the pitch. This midfield rebuild retooled Liverpool ahead of the 2023/24 season and has given Klopp what he needed, but what if Alonso wants to shape his midfield in a different way?
Klopp’s successor could have even more on his plate if Salah leaves at the end of the season. There was strong interest in the Egyptian from the Saudi Pro League last summer and Salah could feasibly see this summer as an opportune time to leave Anfield with Klopp already committed to departing the club.
Virgil van Dijk has also raised questions about his future with comments made after the announcement of Klopp’s impending exit. “That’s a big question. I don’t know,” replied the Dutch defender when asked if he envisages being part of Liverpool’s next era. “To replace not only the manager but the whole staff and there are so many things that will change. I’m very curious which direction that will go in, but when that will be announced we will see our situation.”
No matter what happens between now and the end of the season, the Liverpool job will be more attractive than it has been in the past thanks to Klopp. The German pushed the club back to the top of English and European soccer and Liverpool can look forward to another era of success on the back of Klopp’s achievements.
Some other candidates such as Roberto De Zerbi, Julian Nagelsmann and Ruben Amorim have been mentioned in relation to the Liverpool job, but Alonso’s appointment would make the most sense. The Spaniard isn’t the new Klopp, yet he could be the only one capable of stepping into his shoes in the Anfield dugout.
