30 January 2024 , 18:00
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He's been tipped to be Liverpool’s next boss but Jose Mourinho was already extolling Xabi Alonso's coaching abilities five years ago.
Alonso is the big favourite to take over from Jurgen Klopp at Anfield at the end of the season. The former Spain midfielder, 42, has worked wonders for Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen and, of course, has a rich history with Liverpool as a player.
But ‘Special One’ Mourinho earmarked Alonso as a top-class manager when he was just starting out, taking on Real Madrid ’s Under 14s side when completing his UEFA badges in 2018.
Speaking to the following year, ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Roma boss Mourinho said: "With Xabi Alonso, you always saw there was a manager there.
“Similarly to me, his father was a player. He grew up with a father who was a player then a manager, and then he became a player, of course much better than I was.
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"His knowledge of the game was very high and then he played in Spain, England and Germany and was coached by [Pep] Guardiola at Bayern, by myself in Real Madrid, by [Carlos] Ancelotti in Real Madrid and by [Rafa] Benitez in Liverpool. So if you put all that together, then I would say that Xabi has the conditions to be a very good coach."
Alonso is favourite to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield (Getty Images)Alonso was famously part of the Liverpool side that won the Champions League in 2005, coming back from 3-0 down at half-time to beat AC Milan on penalties.
Alonso scored the equaliser on the hour mark, scoring the rebound after Dida saved his spot kick. He didn't take a penalty in the shootout, as Jerzy Dudek proved Liverpool's hero in goal.