Jose Mourinho predicted that former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso would be a "very good coach" before his exploits at Bayer Leverkusen.

Mourinho, who has tasted success with the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid and AS Roma, had the opportunity to manage Alonso during his spell in the Spanish capital.

Fast forward to 2023, Alonso has earned his stripes with the likes of Real Sociedad before being tasked with helping Bayer Leverkusen towards the right end of the table.

READ MORE: Everton punishment may see FSG get what they wanted when they bought Liverpool

READ MORE: Liverpool disadvantage that will leave Klopp even more annoyed before City

After his exploits in the Bundesliga with Leverkusen sitting top of the Bundesliga, the 41-year-old is courting admirers from around the world. His performances have earned links with positions at three of his former clubs Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, like Alonso, has three years remaining on his current deal at Anfield and has been subject to links with the Germany national team position.

Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi is among the names mooted as Klopp's successor but so too is the Champions League-winning midfielder Alonso.

And Mourinho has already provided glowing praise for Alonso's managerial capabilities.

"With Xabi Alonso you always saw there was a manager there. Similarly to me, his father was a player," he said at a TopEleven event in 2019." He grew up with a father [Periko] who was a player then a manager, and then he became a player, of course much better than I was.

"His knowledge of the game was very high. And then he played in Spain, England and Germany. And he was coached by [Pep] Guardiola at Bayern, by myself in Real Madrid, by [Carlo] Ancelotti in Real Madrid and by [Rafa] Benitez in Liverpool.

"So if you put all that together then I would say that Xabi has conditions to be a very good coach."