Former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fàbregas has a very clear idea of who Liverpool should turn to in order to find a replacement for Jürgen Klopp in the summer.
Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fàbregas has weighed in on the discussion of who should take over as the next Liverpool manager ahead of Jürgen Klopp’s departure next summer. Fàbregas believes that Xabi Alonso would be the perfect candidate for the job. Alonso, currently the coach of Bayer Leverkusen, has made a strong impression in his coaching career so far.
Alonso’s success with Bayer Leverkusen, who currently sits at the top of the Bundesliga, has caught the attention of many. When Alonso took over in October 2022, the team was struggling near the bottom of the league, but he has managed to turn their fortunes around. Fàbregas highlights Alonso’s intelligence, personality, mentality, and connection to Liverpool as key factors that make him an ideal replacement for Klopp.
“He’s a very intelligent guy,” Fàbregas stated in an interview with the BBC’s Planet Premier League podcast. “He’s been up there. He’s done it all and he knows the standards that are being set at Liverpool. The crowd love him, and also I think he’s a really good coach. He’s got good ideas.
“Maybe he plays slightly differently [to Klopp] but I think he’s got adaptability. I saw him around when he was the coach of Real Sociedad B, then now at Bayer Leverkusen. He does different things. He’s capable of adapting to the situation and to different types of players he’s got and he’s got the right mentality.
“He’s young, but the good thing about him is that he’s got very clear ideas. He’s an intelligent, stable guy and has the right personality. So it’s a big shout, but I agree that he [would be] able to do it.”
Fàbregas acknowledges that Alonso may have a slightly different playing style to what Liverpool currently employs but believes he has the adaptability to succeed at Liverpool. Fàbregas has observed Alonso’s coaching journey from his time at Real Sociedad B to his current role at Bayer Leverkusen and is impressed by his ability to adapt to different situations and players.
Despite the speculation linking Alonso to Liverpool, the Spanish coach remains focused on his current position at Bayer Leverkusen and their pursuit of the league title. Alonso expressed his respect and admiration for Klopp’s achievements at Liverpool but emphasized his happiness at Leverkusen.
While Alonso’s potential move to Anfield remains uncertain, Fàbregas sees him as a young coach with clear ideas, stability, and the right personality to take on the Liverpool managerial role. Only time will tell who will ultimately succeed Klopp, but Alonso has certainly emerged as a strong contender in the eyes of Fàbregas and many others.
Liverpool.com says: Alonso would appear to be the leading contender at the moment. He has the pull that could attract top players to Anfield and an aura, albeit in a different way to Klopp, that will need replacing when the German goes. It does seem like Alonso might be the best candidate.
