Ilkay Gundogan reveals the characteristics he would take from Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel as Barcelona star wants to follow Xabi Alonso's example as a coach

The Barcelona star admitted he wants to go into management one day and while he has played under Guardiola at Manchester City and Tuchel and Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, the 33-year-old wants to follow a "similar path" to Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso. The midfielder also laid out the aforementioned trio's strengths in the dugout.

He told Spiegel: "I want to be a coach who can empathise with his players very well, but who also has football intelligence. I would like to follow a similar path to Xabi Alonso in Leverkusen. I met him in Manchester when he was watching Pep. He gives me the impression of being a very pleasant, authentic person who also gives his team a clear plan. I recognize elements of Pep's philosophy, but also his own ideas. That commands my respect."

When asked if he could choose one characteristic from each of his top coaches, he added: "From Pep definitely the football intelligence, from Kloppo the fatherly authority, from Tuchel the training content and his eye for detail. Tuchel, for example, always paid a lot of attention to the position of the feet when receiving and carrying the ball."

Guardiola, Klopp, and Tuchel have long been seen as elite managers and now Alonso may be joining that company after a stunning double-winning season for Leverkusen. If Gundogan wants to go into management after his career finishes, he could do a lot worse than learning from this quartet.

Gundogan is set to represent Germany in this summer's European Championships in his native country. The 33-year-old, who has racked up 76 international caps, will hope to play a starring role in his national side in the coming weeks.