According to Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso, a former teammate of his at Liverpool, is considered the frontrunner to take over as the new manager at Anfield following the departure of Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp’s unexpected announcement about leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, citing a depletion of energy after almost nine years in charge, has shifted the focus to his successor.
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Carragher, while expressing hope for Klopp’s impactful farewell, points out that Alonso and Brighton’s Roberto de Zerbi are the early candidates for the position.
Carragher gives the 42-year-old Alonso the edge, attributing it to his five-year playing tenure at Liverpool and his impressive managerial debut with Bayer Leverkusen, currently leading the Bundesliga ahead of Bayern Munich.
“We are losing one of the greatest managers in world football, one of the greatest managers Liverpool have ever had and it is a sad day, no doubt,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“But in the same breath, we’ve got to be looking forward to the new man coming in, get behind him and support him. Bill Shankly left, Bob Paisley left, Kenny Dalglish left and Liverpool moves on.
“You can’t get away from Xabi Alonso because he’s so respected at Liverpool already for what he did as a player – he’s a Champions League winner, held himself with real class, he’s a World Cup winner.
“Right now, the job he’s done at Bayer Leverkusen, he looks like the brightest young thing in European football. It certainly makes him the front-runner.”
Liverpool currently hold a five-point advantage over Manchester City in the Premier League standings, although they have played one more game.
Additionally, the team has secured a spot in the Carabao Cup final and remains active in both the FA Cup and Europa League.
Carragher, who made 737 appearances for Liverpool, posted on X, formerly Twitter: “This news was always going to be a body blow to the club whenever it came.
“I just thought it would be another few years away. What a manager, what a man, let’s go out with a bang Jurgen!”
His thoughts were echoed by ex-Reds striker Michael Owen, who posted: “All great things inevitably come to an end but I thought it would be 2 or 3 years down the line. Memories to last a lifetime. One of the greatest managers ever.”
Thomas Tuchel, the manager of Bayern, who took over from Klopp at Borussia Dortmund in 2015, mentioned that he was still in the process of digesting the news when questioned about it during his pre-match press conference on Friday, but added: “Kloppo is one of the best coaches of all time. He’s always managed to influence an entire club at all his clubs. It’s huge news.”
Klopp’s Manchester United counterpart Erik ten Hag hailed the “amazing job” the German manager had done on Merseyside.
“He has made an era there. He built the club, he brought the club back I think where they belong, so congratulations on that,” the Dutchman said.
“What an amazing job that man has done, he really has been a fantastic servant to Liverpool Football Club.”
