Unusual: he pretends to be a famous football coach and asks for money on social networks

Xabi Alonso accompagné de José Mourinho, lors de Bayer Leverkusen – AS Rome, en mai 2023. firo Sportphoto – Jürgen Fromme

While the iconic Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp announced the end of his history with the English club at the end of the season, rumors are growing about his replacement on the Reds bench and this is taking advantage… to scammers. 

This is particularly the case in Thailand, where police have warned Liverpool fans in the country against online scammers posing as the Liverpool coach. Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso, strongly tipped to replace Jürgen Klopp at the head of the English club this summer.

A ruse that grew bigger and bigger

The Central Bureau of Investigation has asked fans to be wary of a viral message posted on an Instagram account by a person posing as Spaniard and asking for donations of 300 baht (around 8 euros) to help him pay for his plane ticket.

"I'm Xabi Alonso, I'll be in charge of Liverpool next season, but I'm short on money for my flights to Liverpool," says the message , written in Thai.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder is one of the favorites to succeed Klopp, who announced on Friday to everyone's surprise that he would leave the club immediately. end of season.

🚨 Bayer #Leverkusen sous Xabi #Alonso c'est extrêmement violent. pic.twitter.com/rZIbkNDRE8

— 𝒜𝑔𝑒𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝒮𝑒𝒸𝓇𝑒𝓉𝑜🥷🤠 (@agentosecretov4) January 29, 2024

The young Spanish coach, who offers an attractive, convincing and solid game, is currently having an excellent season at Bayer Leverkusen. He has still not been defeated in the league, with 15 wins and 4 draws in 19 matches. 

Time to calm the situation

"Liverpool fans need to calm down. Xabi is not yet the manager, but there is already a scammer online,” we read in the police statement published on Facebook on Sunday.

Police said the author of the post – doctored to appear to come from Alonso's official Instagram account – was “a scammer pretending to be Xabi”.

Xabi Alonso on course to end Bayern Munich's 11-year reign in the Bundesliga. EPA – CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF

The English Premier League is extremely popular in Thailand and Liverpool is one of the Thais' favorite teams. Red jerseys and club crests can be found almost everywhere, on clothes, in taxis or stores.