In the high-stakes world of football, picking the next Liverpool manager will be vital. And Bayer Leverkusen's shot-stopper, Lukáš Hrádecký, has lifted the veil on what he believes is the cornerstone of Xabi Alonso's triumphs as a manager.

With Leverkusen on the verge of clinching their inaugural Bundesliga championship — boasting a 10-point lead with just eight games left — its unbeaten streak has sparked rumors about potential moves for Alonso to football giants like Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid. As Liverpool scouts for a successor to Jürgen Klopp, Alonso has emerged as a strong contender amid potential competition from Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi and Sporting's Rúben Amorim.

Hrádecký attributes Alonso's managerial prowess to his rigorous planning and unwavering standards. "The hype is definitely justified," he said, via the ECHO, highlighting Alonso's emphasis on replicating match intensity in training sessions and his tactical acumen.

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According to Hrádecký, Alonso's approach to football intelligence — meticulous in corners, pressing strategies, and defensive positioning — is what sets him apart. He discussed the transformative atmosphere Alonso has instilled at Leverkusen, one that mirrors his rich experiences from playing days in Madrid and Liverpool.

"He brings standards, a winning mentality, train how you play and how you go on every action in every training session with intensity.," Hrádecký said. "That's where the real secret is. We are pretty clear about what we do. Tactically, he's fantastic. How we think about corners, pressing the game, staying low. He brings football intelligence with him.

"You guys don't see him on a daily basis but the atmosphere he’s brought in Leverkusen — we didn’t have it before. I think it comes from the way he has experienced football. He lives the game as he did when he was a player. In Madrid, Liverpool — that’s the level we strive for every day. Xabi brings a mentally-spirit from the top clubs. It was here when he came but it’s up here right now. It's the best Leverkusen team I've experienced. It's hellishly difficult to play us."

As speculation mounts over Alonso's future, with a contract extending till 2026 at Leverkusen, Hrádecký expresses a collective desire for Alonso to stay but acknowledges the potential for departure if he decides to explore new horizons after possibly winning the Bundesliga. "That’s our wish and dream [for him to stay]," Hrádecký added, underscoring the respect and admiration for Alonso within the team. "Of course, no one would be angry or argue if he wins the Bundesliga and decides to go another route," he admitted. "There’s going to be another open post in the coach’s spot. We see it on a daily basis that he loves to be in Leverkusen."

Liverpool.com says: It is clear that if Alonso wins the Bundesliga, as he should from this position, then things are unlikely to ever get better for him at Leverkusen. As a result of that, he should be taking his next move while his stock is at its highest. Liverpool makes the most sense for him after Leverkusen but there are still things to be worked out.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Liverpool ECHO by clicking here.