Episode 3450: Adios Alonso, Liverpool’s Next Move, Carrick In The Door, Grunge Week Sets Sail

The next big thing in football management, Xabi Alonso, has failed to last one season at Real Madrid.

We have Diego Torres on the show to give us the politics behind the scenes, why good managers are hard to find these days and why Alonso to Liverpool is a very distinct possibility.

Michael Carrick is in the door at Manchester United and Ken urges them to hire their own Xabi Alonso full-time, because coming fourth in the Championship with Middlesbrough is every bit as good as winning the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen… right?

And Eoin adroitly pilots Grunge Week out of the harbour and onto the high seas.

Click the player at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series’  ‘Where Is George Gibney?’ and Stakeknife.

The All-Ireland junior and intermediate club finals were on this weekend – the sight of Second Captains super-friend Jamie Wall and his brother Philip embracing on the sidelines in Croke Park after Kilbrittain’s win on Saturday evening left an indelible image ? pic.twitter.com/2BEibSQ7y5

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) January 12, 2026