'I know Xabi Alonso and he'll definitely become Liverpool boss - he was destined to be a top coach'
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Xabi Alonso has long been tipped as a future Liverpool manager and his availability has not helped to dampen the speculation that he could take over from Arne SlotXabi Alonso during his time as head coach at Real Madrid.(Image: Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)Former Liverpool midfielder Vladimir Smicer says there is "no doubt" that Xabi Alonso will manage the Reds one day — claiming he knew that the Spaniard was going to become a top coach even when he played alongside him.Alonso worked wonders at Bayer Leverkusen in his first senior job, but then a move to Real Madrid didn't pan out. He was fired at the turn of the year and has been out of work since, which hasn't helped the under-pressure Arne Slot in terms of the outside narrative.Though not necessarily in the summer, Smicer believes that Alonso is destined to take charge of Liverpool at some point in the future, having already shown himself capable of being a top coach in Germany.READ MORE: How Liverpool could line up next season with 3 transfers to transform Arne Slot's sideREAD MORE: Arne Slot makes bold prediction for next season and hits back at Liverpool 'doubts'While things went wrong in Spain, that is generally thought of as a problem with the Real Madrid superstars being unwilling to change their ways rather than an indictment of what he was attempting to achieve."Liverpool fans love Alonso as a player, and of course, they have followed him as a manager," Smicer said.
"They saw what he did for Bayer Leverkusen and also how things went at Real Madrid."And now they saw when he had a tough time against Real Madrid stars. I don't think it was against Real Madrid fans; it was more against Real Madrid stars."He is very talented, he was very talented as a player, and he's definitely very talented as a coach as well.
Yes, of course, there is speculation about him when he is free and our coach is under pressure.Xabi Alonso on the touchline in his final match in charge of Real Madrid.(Image: Fadel SENNA / AFP via Getty Images)"That's what the fans like, that's what the media likes. It's always there, but let's finish the season and we'll see."But of course one day Xabi Alonso will be Liverpool manager and maybe Steven Gerrard will too.