Xabi Alonso is emerging as the leading candidate to take over from Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool when the current season concludes.
Amid Liverpool’s quest for a new manager, Xabi Alonso’s name continues to be linked with a potential Anfield return.
Alonso, who enjoyed immense popularity among fans during his tenure as a player at Merseyside, may embark on a fairy-tale comeback to the club he served from 2004 to 2009, this time as the first-team manager.
Liverpool fans hold fond memories of the 42-year-old from his playing days, yet there remains a relative lack of awareness regarding the personnel supporting Alonso’s bid for Bundesliga success this season.
Here’s a quick rundown of the current members of his backroom staff at Bayer Leverkusen, some of whom might join the former midfielder at the Reds if Fenway Sports Group chooses to hire him as manager in the summer.
Marcel Daum (Assistant Coach, Analysis)
Daum, a lifelong fan of Leverkusen since his boyhood days, took on the role of the club’s chief analyst for the 2018/19 season. Prior to this, he had gained valuable experience in comparable positions at FC Koln and Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany. His brief stint at the international level came with Romania, where he served for one year from 2016 to 2017.
Simon Lackmann (First-team Analyst)
Commencing his journey with Leverkusen in 2009, Lackmann started as a video analyst for the club and currently contributes to projects under Daum’s supervision. With his contract due to end this summer, he could seamlessly join Alonso at Anfield.
Albert Encinas (Assistant Manager)
In the past, Encinas was enlisted by Leverkusen when Gerardo Seoane joined in 2021, transitioning from his coaching beginnings in Spanish football’s lower tiers at Premia, Mataro, and CF Damm Youth. Subsequently, he assumed the role of assistant manager for Barcelona’s under-19s team before also serving in the same capacity for Barcelona B.
Sebastian Parrilla (Assistant Manager)
Arriving at Leverkusen alongside Alonso in October 2022, the Argentine had a stint in Real Madrid’s youth system from 2001 to 2018. Throughout this time, Parrilla coached different age groups, from U11 to the club’s B team. Their paths first intersected in 2018 when Alonso was coaching Los Blancos’ U14s during his UEFA Elite coaching course. Alonso then brought Parrilla to Real Sociedad B in 2019, and they reunited once more in 2022 when the chance to work in Germany arose.
David Thiel (Goalkeeping Coach)
Having formerly served as a goalkeeper for Leverkusen during his youth, Thiel transitioned his expertise into coaching upon his appointment as the club’s goalkeeping coach in 2012. Bernd Leno, the goalkeeper for Fulham, stands out as the most notable shot-stopper Thiel has mentored during his extensive tenure.
Dr. Malte Kruger (Head of Sports Science and Fitness)
He attended the Institute for Training Science and Sport Informatics at the German Sport University in Cologne, establishing contact with club players as early as 2009 through the university’s connection with Leverkusen. He transitioned to a permanent staff role in 2019.
Daniel Jouvin (Fitness Coach)
Originally from Brazil, Jouvin first became associated with the German club in 2011 when he joined as a personal fitness coach for midfielder Renato Augusto. Despite his initial role, he has since become an integral part of the team. Prior to his time with the German club, he gained experience working with Flamengo in Brazil and the Brazilian national team. Additionally, he holds a national championship title in jui-jitsu.
Ismael Camenforte-Lopez (Fitness Coach)
The Catalan honed his skills at Barcelona over a span of seven years before seizing the chance to join New York City FC in the United States. He then made his way back to Europe to take on a role with the Denmark national team. In 2021, at the age of 39, he inked a deal with Leverkusen.
Markus Muller (Fitness Coach)
In 2022, Muller joined the Black and Reds after spending six years at Borussia Monchengladbach. Before that, he served a comparable role in Borussia Dortmund’s academy.
Jonas Rath (Fitness Coach)
In a similar fashion to Muller, Rath made the move from Monchengladbach to Leverkusen in 2023. Prior to this transition, he was involved with the Germany U17 team and also worked with the handball Bundesliga club HSG Wetzlar.
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