Featured Image Credit: Getty - Redmen TV
Topics: Liverpool, Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso, Premier League, Bayer Leverkusen
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Liverpool, Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso, Premier League, Bayer Leverkusen
Jamie Carragher was far from impressed with Xabi Alonso's comments prior to joining Liverpool, but they simply proved he was a promising manager in waiting.
Ahead of his much-anticipated £10.5 million move from Real Sociedad in August 2004, then-Spain international Alonso was keen to improve matters on the pitch at Anfield.
In fact, he discussed some of his ideas with manager Rafael Benitez – something that was relayed back to the Liverpool squad before the player's arrival.
Advert
Jamie Carragher, who spent his entire professional career at Liverpool between 1996 and 2013, didn't take too kindly to Alonso's feedback.
Speaking to The Redmen TV, he recalled: "I remember Rafa saying - and don't forget Xabi was only 22 - 'We've got this player coming in, I think he's a fantastic player. He's already spoken about where the team can improve, other tactical things'.
"And I'm reading this thinking, 'Who the f****** hell does he think he is? 22, coming over from Spain, telling us where we're going wrong. F****** let's see you in the shirt first!'"
Carragher later added: "We used to speak a lot about football. He [Alonso] was always someone who was interested in football and he did watch a lot of football."
Since retiring in 2017, Alonso has established himself as one of the most best young coaches in world football. He has transformed Bayer Leverkusen into Bundesliga title challengers.
Advert
And after such a prolific spell in Germany with Die Werkself, the Spaniard is being linked with some of the biggest jobs in world football, including the soon-to-be-vacant Liverpool post.
Jurgen Klopp recently confirmed he will leave Anfield at the end of the season, citing decreasing energy levels as one of the reasons behind his shock departure.
A number of high-profile names have been linked with Liverpool, including Roberto De Zerbi and Ruben Amorim, but Carragher believes Alonso is the right man for the job.
Advert
Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said: "I think right now, if you look around the Premier League and Europe and you think who fits Liverpool, there is no doubt you cannot get away from Xabi Alonso, a former team-mate of mine.
"It's because he is so respected at Liverpool for what he did as a player, he is a Champions League winner, has always held himself with real class, he's a World Cup winner - and that's just his playing side.
"You think of the managers he has worked under, Rafa Benitez at Liverpool, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, and all of these great figures.
"And right now with the job he is doing at Bayer Leverkusen, he almost looks like the brightest young thing in European football, there is no doubt about that."