Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has revealed Xabi Alonso's comments that irked him just before he joined Anfield in 2004 - but explained why he still believes the Spaniard would be a 'match made in heaven' as the club's next manager.
Alonso is the frontrunner to succeed Jurgen Klopp in the dugout after the German announced he would end his nine-year reign on Merseyside at the end of the season.
The former Liverpool midfielder is favoured for the role after winning admirers with the incredible work he is doing at Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
His side are currently unbeaten in the German league and eight points clear at the top of the table.
And Carragher - who was a team-mate of Alonso's for five years - provided an anecdote that left Liverpool players fuming - but one that he feels may demonstrate why the Spaniard could be a great coach and a motivating figure.
He revealed a chat with then-manager Rafa Benitez, who had spoken to the squad about Alonso's impending arrival after he agreed a move from Real Sociedad.
He told The Redmen YouTube channel: 'I remember Rafa saying - and don't forget Xabi was only 22 - "We've got this player coming in, I think he's a fantastic player. He's already spoken about where the team can improve, other tactical things".
'And I'm reading this thinking, "Who the f***ing hell does he think he is? 22, coming over from Spain, telling us where we're going wrong. F***ing let's see you in the shirt first!"'
Carragher said Alonso made it clear he was 'interested in football' at multiple levels and claimed the ex-Real Madrid man showed he 'had his head screwed on'.
"We used to speak a lot about football, he added. 'He [Alonso] was always someone who was interested in football and he did watch a lot
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