Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola stated that he expected Bayer Leverkusen's head coach Xabi Alonso to become a manager during their time together at Bayern Munich but the two-time treble winner is "blown" away by the job he has done so far.
Alonso has garnered widespread acclaim for his managerial prowess in Germany, with Leverkusen maintaining an unbeaten record across all competitions this season, the only team in Europe's top five leagues to do so.
Leading the Bundesliga table, eight points clear of Bayern Munich, Leverkusen is in contention for a treble, also excelling in the Europa League and DFB Pokal.
Although the 42-year-old's tenure at the club might be short-lived as he is linked with managerial positions at Bayern Munich and Liverpool, both of which will be vacant this summer.
While Guardiola refrained from commenting on the speculation surrounding Alonso's future, he expressed admiration for Alonso's managerial achievements thus far.
Regarding Liverpool's interest in Alonso, the Manchester City boss stated: "That’s a question for Liverpool, and of course, I’m not going to answer because I don’t know the ideas that I have.
"But if you ask me about the job he’s doing…honestly…wow! The only team that’s unbeaten in all competitions, fighting in the way with Bayern Munich there. Now they are in the position that they cannot win the Bundesliga, they can lose the Bundesliga but everybody thinks it’s done. Now is the most difficult thing because it’s not done until it’s done.
"But, wow! Not just the way they play, they didn’t lose one game in the Europa League, the Pokal in Germany, the Bundesliga."
Having signed Alonso during his tenure at Bayern Munich in 2014, Guardiola foresaw Alonso's potential as a manager and also tipped a few other players he has worked with to follow a similar path.
"I was incredibly fortunate to have him one and a half years or two seasons. He’s such an intelligent player,’ said Guardiola.
"Holding midfielders ask you questions and how curious they are about the game, you realise that if this guy retires he will be at home, he will be annoyed, nothing to do.
"Normally holding midfielders like him, [Javier] Mascherano, [Sergio] Busquets, Rodri, [Ilkay] Gundogan, they will be involved in football for sure because they have a vision, their perspective is different.
"He was a top class player otherwise you cannot play Liverpool, Madrid and Bayern Munich. He took good decisions and I’m so happy for him, he deserves it, he’s a lovely, lovely guy."
