XABI ALONSO is emerging as a strong candidate to be the next West Ham manager — if David Moyes leaves.
Current Hammers boss Moyes is adamant he is already planning for next season and has no intention of going this summer.
But if West Ham and the Scot do part company, Liverpool icon Alonso will be in the frame after putting himself firmly on the club’s radar this season.
The ex-Bayern Munich midfielder, 41, is making a real name for himself after transforming Bayer Leverkusen in his first big job.
When Alonso arrived in October, after three years in charge of Real Sociedad’s B team, Leverkusen were second bottom in the Bundesliga.
Now they are in the top six and the semi finals of the Europa League as the man who won the World Cup and European Championship as a player starts building his coaching career.
Alonso, 41, is developing the reputation of a young progressive coach in the mould of childhood friend Mikel Arteta, now the Arsenal manager, and Burnley boss Vincent Kompany.
It is understood that senior figures at West Ham are well aware of the buzz surrounding Alonso and consider him a real possibility to replace Moyes, despite his relative lack of experience.
The former Spain international knows the Premier League after spending five seasons with Liverpool, during which he helped them win the Champions League and FA Cup.
Alonso went on to be a European and Spanish champion with Real Madrid before winning three Bundesliga titles at Bayern.
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The first two of those championships came under Pep Guardiola, who would go on to have Arteta as his assistant at Manchester City.
Liverpool fans are already talking about Alonso as a future Anfield boss, ahead of his former midfield partner Steven Gerrard.
But West Ham could offer him the chance to prove his mettle in the Premier League.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
