Former Liverpool player has now been asked to join Barcelona’s new coaching team under Hansi Flick
Liverpool fans have become used to seeing some of their former heroes enter the world of coaching.
It had long been hoped that one of the most storied of them, Steven Gerrard, would one day take over from Jurgen Klopp.
Had Gerrard’s time at Aston Villa gone far better, perhaps he would have been considered at Anfield when that time came this summer.
While the former Liverpool captain hasn’t enjoyed the best of times on the other side of the touchline, some of his former Reds teammates certainly.
Xabi Alonso was always destined to be a top manager and the Spaniard has inevitably turned into a ridiculously good one. After Alonso, another former midfield maestro now looks set to begin his career his coaching.
Thiago Alcantara offered Barcelona role
Part of the reason it appeared inevitable that Alonso would become a great manager was because of the coaches he played under during his career.
Alonso says he learned a lot from Rafa Benitez at Liverpool, while he was also managed by Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Vicente del Bosque.
While the World Cup winner could count such luminaries of the coaching world as his former bosses though, perhaps Thiago Alcantara can go one better.
Thiago has surprisingly retired from playing after his Liverpool contract came to an end this summer.
READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano shares what Thiago Alcantara is planning to do after leaving Liverpool
Just like Alonso, Thiago can name Guardiola, Ancelotti and Del Bosque as his former mentors. Chuck Jurgen Klopp and Jupp Heynckes in there too, and the 33-year-old has arguably had a better education than Alonso.
Moreover, Thiago was a teammate of Xabi’s both in the national team and for three years at Bayern. A cerebral and highly intelligent footballer, the former Liverpool No.6 looks poised to step into management.
And according to The Athletic, Thiago’s first job offer has already arrived. They claim that the former Spain international has held a meeting with new Barcelona boss Hansi Flick over a role on the German’s coaching staff.
Flick is reportedly ‘keen’ to bring Thiago on board following his retirement. The Spaniard is said to be considering the proposal.
Liverpool could make Thiago counter-offer
With Barcelona offering Thiago a place on their coaching team, we would suggest that Liverpool should do exactly the same.
The Reds are still searching for an additional coach to add to Arne Slot’s team. With the likes of Johnny Heitinga seemingly being considered, why not Thiago, too?
Sure, he has far less experience in that role than Heitinga, but he knows the Liverpool squad inside out and would be a valuable addition.
Clearly a strong leader and a very popular member of the Liverpool group, it would not be much of a transition for Thiago to take over as part of the coaching team.
From there, anything really should be possible for Thiago. He has the intelligence and football brain to become the next Alonso. Liverpool should get in there and snap him up before the chance gets away.
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