Liverpool are being given plenty of suggestions for who could come in and take over from Jurgen Klopp.
The departure of the Reds’ manager of almost nine years has been enormous news in the football world ever since his shock announcement in January.
As a result, just about everybody you can think of has had their say on who should come in. The likes of former striker Fernando Torres have even been asked if they’d put themselves in the running for the job.
Only today, Danny Murphy has voiced his support for one Premier League manager who isn’t even a candidate. Meanwhile, we think Liverpool should change tack and hire an ‘outside’ candidate.
The latest to weigh in has been former Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack. An incredible midfielder in his day, Ballack has named a player of his own generation as being an ideal ‘fit’ for the Reds.
Michael Ballack gives manager suggestion
What a player Ballack was. Perhaps underrated given his injury-hit years with Chelsea, the 47-year-old is a legend back in his native Germany, where he starred for Kaiserslautern, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, as well as the national team.
The UEFA Midfielder of the Year in 2002, Ballack was part of an incredible generation of European midfielders.
Although slightly younger than him, Xabi Alonso is also part of that group. And although the 42-year-old has already ruled himself out of taking the Liverpool job, that hasn’t stopped Ballack from recommending him.
“Alonso has the natural acceptance from his players as a former world class player,” the German told Up Front with Simon Jordan. “You know you have this respect from the players which you cannot ask for if you’re a ‘normal’ coach, but this doesn’t mean you’re a great coach. He has the character, the voice, the attitude, the personality and he knows how to win. He brings a lot of things together that are combined in a very good and balanced way.
“I think he’d fit both Bayern Munich and Liverpool. For me, the timing is the question. Stepping into Jurgen Klopp’s footprints at Liverpool at this time is not the easiest move. This would be a big, big move. I don’t think he’s scared. Bayern Munich is also a big challenge because there’s another level of expectation compared to Bayer Leverkusen. But it would be good timing to go there because they mightn’t have won something by the summer, which is rare.
“But why should he not stay another year at Bayer Leverkusen, enjoying the position he’s already built? He is respected. Everyone is behind him at the club. Why don’t you build something at Bayer Leverkusen?”
What does the future hold for Xabi Alonso
Many Liverpool fans will still be reeling from the news that their former midfielder will not be taking over this summer. He had seemed like a shoo-in for the job.
Nevertheless, life goes on. And it’s been claimed that Alonso does still see managing the Reds as being part of his ‘big vision’ for the future.
It has also been reported that the Spaniard could well make a move to another club next year. If 2024/25 goes as well as 2023/24 for Leverkusen, there have been suggestions that Xabi could decide the time is right to leave. Obviously, that’s unlikely to be a consolation for Liverpool.
As Ballack says, the ingredients are there to make Alonso a great fit for the Reds at some point. It’s unfortunate that he’s decided to take that option off the table for now.