Xabi Alonso tipped to replace Arne Slot as Liverpool boss — 'Definitely'
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Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit believes Xabi Alonso could succeed Arne Slot as Liverpool manager this summer due to the Spaniard's Anfield legacyArne Slot and Xabi Alonso speak after Liverpool faced Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield in last season's Champions League(Image: Getty Images)Former Arsenal and Chelsea player Emmanuel Petit has backed Xabi Alonso to take over from Arne Slot as Liverpool manager, claiming that his Anfield legacy is too significant to overlook.Slot clinched the Premier League title by a 10-point margin in his debut season in Merseyside, but his second term has proven more challenging, with his champions suffering 10 defeats and now battling for Champions League qualification.Alonso, who departed Real Madrid in January, made a name for himself as one of Europe's rising managerial talents during his tenure at Bayer Leverkusen. There, he secured the club's first-ever Bundesliga title in an unbeaten 2024 campaign.READ MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai spends time with family after suffering soccer heartbreakREAD MORE: Liverpool confirms new contract for talented midfielder as progress rewardedPetit feels that Alonso's brief stint at Real Madrid shouldn't overly influence perceptions of the 2005 Champions League winner's managerial prowess.He believes that Alonso's five-year spell at Anfield makes him the perfect candidate to succeed Slot, should the latter be dismissed at the end of the season."When you go against the players in the [Real Madrid] dressing room, then the trouble starts," Petit told BetGoat.
Vinicius was not even starting in the first XI.Alonso is being tipped to take the Liverpool job if Slot departs(Image: Getty Images)"Xabi Alonso is a legend at [Liverpool], and I think in terms of personality, his vision for football, the way he has managed Leverkusen, I don't talk about Real Madrid for the reasons I've said previously, but yeah, [at Liverpool] that would be something interesting."I think this is part of the new generation of managers who have been great players, but they are doing very well in terms of management. So sooner or later, I think his name will be back on the table at Liverpool."Yeah, definitely, because he played many years there.
After winning a trophy last season, I think the supporters would be very happy because it's been a very difficult season so far."But winning a trophy and qualifying for the Champions League, that would be something the fans would be happy with."You cannot win the Premier League every single season, that's impossible. So, if you can win trophies every single season, I think the fans will be happy with that."