I knew Xabi Alonso was destined to coach - I'd love to see him at Liverpool
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.
A former Liverpool team-mate of Xabi Alonso says he would love to see him in the Anfield dugout at some stage of his managerial careerVladimir Smicer has tipped his former Liverpool team-mate Xabi Alonso to one day take charge as manager, admitting he would like to see the Spaniard in the Anfield dugout.And 2005 Champions League winner Smicer claimed he could see Alonso was always going to be a coach from how he approached things during their playing days together on Merseyside.Smicer and Alonso both scored in that famous Champions League final 21 years ago, when Rafa Benitez's side fought back from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties in Istanbul.Smicer, who made 184 appearances for the Reds between 1999 and 2005, says he saw a future manager in Alonso when they played together under Benitez and thinks the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss would thrive as Liverpool coach.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page"Liverpool fans love Xabi Alonso as a player, and of course, they have followed him as a manager," Smicer said."They saw what he did for Bayer Leverkusen (winning the Bundesliga title unbeaten) and also how things went at Real Madrid (sacked in January)."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."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. I would love to see my former team-mates in that role."Right now it's a tough job for Arne Slot to manage, but this is how it is, and hopefully, he will get better results for Liverpool until the end of the season."Smicer added: "I could see a future manager in Xabi Alonso when I was playing with him.