Bolo Zenden identifies what separates former teammate, Xabi Alonso, from chasing pack in race for Liverpool job

• “As for Xabi Alonso, though… what he’s doing at the moment at Bayer Leverkusen, is what’s setting him apart from everyone else in the running right now.“
• “There are certain traits in Xabi’s team which you can clearly identify: they are dominant and they play possession-based, front-foot football. And when you say these kind of things, who else do you associate them with? Liverpool...”
• “Of course I was surprised when I saw the Jurgen Klopp news… I didn’t see it coming, and I don’t think anyone did, actually. You know, he’s spent nine years at the club… why not make it a full 10?!“
• “Now, at least, it’s out in the open. The players can deal with it, the club can deal with it, and most importantly the fans can deal with it!“
• “For Klopp to leave the club, I think it could actually boost them between now and the end of the season, and may go some way towards them challenging for all four trophies that are currently available to them.“
• “While it looks like Xabi Alonso is going to be the guy to go in and replace Klopp at Liverpool, it doesn’t look like there’s a natural successor at Barca just yet.“

Xabi Alonso was a former teammate of mine… here’s what separates him in race for Liverpool job

Well, it’s no secret that Xabi Alonso’s name is out and about in relation to the vacant role at Liverpool, and I don’t think you’ll get particularly good odds on him replacing Jurgen Klopp right now. He’s leading the race, and the other name I’d expect to circle would be Steven Gerrard… although I’m not sure this would be the right moment for him. 

As for Xabi Alonso, though… what he’s doing at the moment at Bayer Leverkusen, is what’s setting him apart from everyone else in the running right now. To be able, not only to challenge Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, but to absolutely batter Bayern both in their recent game, and in the league, is so impressive. There are certain traits in Xabi’s team which you can clearly identify: they are dominant and they play possession-based, front-foot football. And when you say these kind of things, who else do you associate them with? Liverpool. For that reason, you would think Xabi would be a perfect fit for Liverpool. That move would not surprise me at all. 

 If I could sum Xabi up in one word it would probably be ‘intelligent’. He was such a clever guy, he was calm and down to earth. He was the guy who making things happen from the middle, accelerating the game or slowing it down. A player who is capable of scoring from his own half isn’t just showing his technical ability, he’s showing he’s clever enough to notice there’s a goalkeeper standing too far off his line. He’s a clever guy who knows what it takes to be successful at the top of the game. I hope I’m not being too positive here, but he’s a really good guy and I enjoyed playing with him, working with him and being around him. I wish him all the best, wherever he is or ends up.  

It doesn’t surprise me that he’s gone into management. I had the same question regarding Pep Guardiola, who I played alongside at Barcelona. Did I expect him to be so successful? Well, I could tell he was someone who would always fit into the world of management. It’s the same with Xavi at Barcelona, and even Steven Gerrard. They’re the same kind of players; none of them have surprised me, but obviously no one can predict just how successful they’d go on to be. 

Gentleman Klopp’s news will go some way towards them challenging for historic quadruple 

Of course I was surprised when I saw the Jurgen Klopp news… I didn’t see it coming, and I don’t think anyone did, actually. You know, he’s spent nine years at the club… why not make it a full 10?!

I was pleased that last year, the club decided to stick with Klopp, despite it not being the greatest of seasons. A lot of teams would have got rid of their manager, but they stuck with him and he’s shown they were right to do that when you look at where they are this season, fighting on four fronts. He was able to turn things around, get them back to winning ways, make a few changes to the squad and get them back to the top. 

It’s gentlemanlike of Jurgen to be honest and open about his plans at this stage of the year, and not just run away at the end of the season. It means the club can begin looking for a new manager, and it gives that manager an opportunity to work on the squad in preparation for next year. It also means he can be honest and transparent with his players who, at this stage of the season, might be thinking about their place in the team and their own plans for the future. Now, at least, it’s out in the open. The players can deal with it, the club can deal with it, and most importantly the fans can deal with it. 

To be honest and clear about the situation, only really helps all parties. Quite often you’ll see that when a manager decides to leave, it does something negative to the team, because all of a sudden, I don’t know, players are thinking about their own futures, perhaps, and there’s an air of uncertainty. But it seems like Liverpool are going to use this as an advantage; everybody wants to say goodbye in a positive way, and help the manager walk out proudly through the front door, rather than sneaking out through the back door.

How often does a manager leave a club on his own will? You know, nine times out of ten, he’s been sacked. The fans have always responded in a positive way to Jurgen Klopp, as have the players and the city of Liverpool itself. For Klopp to leave the club, I think it could actually boost them between now and the end of the season, and may go some way towards them challenging for all four trophies that are currently available to them. 

Who replaces Xavi at Barcelona? Unlike Liverpool and Klopp, there’s no natural successor…

We know Xavi is leaving Barcelona in the summer, and so that leaves the door open for someone new to come in, so plenty of English fans might wonder where that leaves their team. Look, I think Mikel Arteta has already spoken openly about being happy at Arsenal, and so I don’t think he’s going to take that job. Obviously, Pep Guardiola is in a happy place, he’s already been there, done that, and won absolutely everything.

When Xavi made that announcement, I know Guardiola was asked a couple of questions about the job, and he admitted the amount of pressure that you feel as Barcelona manager is like nothing else he’s experienced… maybe that’s scared a few people off the role!

Jurgen Klopp, we know, is leaving Liverpool, but my understanding is that he’s looking to take a break away from the game, so I’d be really surprised if he took the job. 

 The way things work at Barcelona is that the club, and its president, is always going to take on board thoughts, comments and suggestions from supporters. You know, there will be questionnaires in the newspapers, to see what the fans want. People are entitled to have a say on who they want as president, and as manager, but I haven’t heard one particular name as of yet. While it looks like Xabi Alonso is going to be the guy to go in and replace Klopp at Liverpool, it doesn’t look like there’s a natural successor at Barca just yet. 

Check out the latest odds for Liverpool’s next manager, with Xabi Alonso the clear favourite.