The role of Liverpool under-23 manager remains vacant following the departure of Neil Critchley earlier this month to become head coach at Blackpool, leading This Is Anfield writer Jack Lusby to outline five potential candidates for the job – with one clear favourite among many Reds supporters.
Four ex-Liverpool players were mentioned – Dirk Kuyt, Sami Hyypia, Robbie Fowler and Xabi Alonso – along with the current under-18 manager Barry Lewtas (as per This Is Anfield). When the topic was broached on Twitter by @ThisIsAnfield, the Spanish World Cup-winning midfielder was named by numerous Reds fans as their choice for the role.
NEW: The return of God & in-house solutions – 5 potential options for next Liverpool U23s boss https://t.co/jloYHHGTks
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) March 15, 2020
Alonso, who was part of the 2005 Champions League-winning side and also won the FA Cup a year later, is currently cutting his coaching teeth as the manager of Real Sociedad’s B team in his homeland, with 12 wins from his 28 matches so far this season as his team lie fifth in Segunda Division B Group II, part of the Spanish third tier. As pointed out by Lusby on This Is Anfield, the average age of his current squad is 20.6, with two of those getting game-time for the Basque club’s first team.
These Liverpool fans on Twitter are hoping that the 38-year-old will pick up where Critchley left off with the under-23 side:
alonso for me all day long
— martin bethell (@martinbethell1) March 15, 2020
Xabi please!
— Life is a dream and I am living it! (@ShaunDavies8) March 15, 2020
Alonso for the job
— Normal Human Being (@deoncurtis59) March 16, 2020
Alonso 100% I’d say robbie but hes doing a fine job over in Australia
— Sean (@sean3648) March 15, 2020
Xabi Alonso can be our new u23 manager. Yes please.
— S.J.K (@yoyeah8) March 16, 2020
Alonso
— FAROUK 78692 supporter for 50years (@Mahomed64720744) March 15, 2020
Do you think Alonso would be the right man for the Liverpool under-23 job or would you rather see it go to someone else? Share your views in the comments section below!
