Manager Jurgen Klopp, under contract until 2026, has announced that he will leave Anfield at the end of the season, citing that he is beginning to run out of energy. One of the leading candidates to succeed him is Xabi Alonso, the coach of Bayer Leverkusen.
Alonso made his first Bundesliga challenge midway through last season, and this season he has built a team that is unbeatable and is in a fierce competition with Bayern Munich for the championship. He has been highly praised for his skills, and it is rumored that Chelsea and other clubs, in addition to Liverpool, are also targeting him.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who won the hearts of supporters with his impressive performances at Anfield and dominated the midfield with Steven Gerrard and others during his career, said he would not want to replace Klopp even if given the chance. However, he also said that Alonso might be the right man for the job.
“He should get the opportunity. Xabi Alonso has proved he is a quality manager, but for me, they’re huge shoes to fill.”
“What Jurgen Klopp has done at Liverpool with the trophies he’s won is incredible. For the next man in, it’s a really difficult task. I wouldn’t want to be the next manager in, I’d want to be the one after him!”
“The manager who replaces Klopp – it’s almost an impossible task. If you don’t pick up the baton and win trophies, it’ll be a problem, but the one after him – that’s the job you want because to follow someone of Klopp’s quality would be so hard.”
“The way Klopp is held in such high regard by players and staff – for anyone to come in and even come close to that is going to take something crazy, but Alonso could be the man to carry on the mantle.”
Football Insider