I was convinced about Xabi Alonso from the start - most people can't believe what he's about to do

Via echo

Dirk Kuyt says he is not surprised by Xabi Alonso's sudden rise as a manager and urged his former Liverpool colleague to grasp any offer to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

Kuyt played with Alonso for three years at Anfield before Alonso made a £30m move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009

Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen currently hold a 10-point advantage at the top of the Bundesliga

Kuyt says Alonso was always studying the game during their time together at Liverpool and that marked him out as a natural fit for management

Kuyt said:

"Well, you know, if you look at former team-mates and players, sometimes you doubt they can become a coach and then you see them doing really well in a management job.

"But, for Xabi, I think in my mind definitely he was like a future coach."

"I followed him and the steps he made in his career.

"I think he did very steady to manage a couple of U23s teams but then he had his first opportunity at Bayer Leverkusen and I think it was the right step.

"It is down to him that he has brought them to the next level because suddenly he is challenging for the league title in Germany and that is something that is very special because for the last few years Bayern Munich was always up there and the number two was Borussia Dortmund.

"Now Xabi is there and I think people almost cannot believe that someone other than Bayern Munich are going to win the league. That shows the quality of a manager like Xabi Alonso.

"People can say maybe it has come too quick but sometimes good things come very quickly and for me, definitely, he was always a guy during our playing time that was always thinking about the game; thinking tactically; talking always tactically outside of the pitch.

"So you could see from a distance a manager one day and for me it would be amazing if one of my former team-mates like Xabi or maybe Steven (Gerrard) in the future will become a manager of Liverpool FC.

"That would be amazing and I think both will do well.

"Obviously you see Stevie is now a little further from the job but he also has experience with Glasgow Rangers and then Aston Villa.

"He is now maybe in a place where people don't like him to be but he is still doing the job and getting experience and that is how you become a better manager in my opinion.

"With Xabi it is the same. I am really looking forward to who will get the job but if Xabi gets it I wish him all the best and I am really proud of my former team-mate for what he is doing there as a manager."