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Xabi Alonso: Liverpool eye other candidates with Bayer Leverkusen set to keep Spanish boss

By Mandeep SangheraBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Liverpoolcomments1243

Why Leverkusen's Alonso is wanted by Europe's biggest clubs

Liverpool expect Xabi Alonso to stay at Bayer Leverkusen this summer and are to consider other candidates to replace manager Jurgen Klopp.

Spaniard Alonso, 42, has been heavily linked with the role at Anfield since Klopp said he will stand down.

Leverkusen are on the brink of a first Bundesliga title and are unbeaten in all competitions this season.

Bayern Munich's honorary president Uli Hoeness said a move for Alonso this summer is "probably impossible".

Alonso was also seen as a candidate to take over at the Bavarian giants, whose manager Thomas Tuchel will depart at the end of the campaign.

"[Alonso] is more inclined to stay at Bayer Leverkusen in view of their current successes, because he would not want to leave them behind," Hoeness said.

Alonso, a stylish midfielder, played 210 times for Liverpool from 2004 to 2009.

He left to join Real Madrid - another club he has recently been linked with - and later moved to Bayern where he spent three years before retiring from playing.

Alonso moved into coaching with Real Madrid's under-14s in 2018 and then had three years in charge of Real Sociedad's B team.

In October 2022, Leverkusen gave him his first role in first-team football and, having taken over with the club second-bottom, he led them to a sixth-placed finish in the Bundesliga.

This season, Alonso's first full term in charge, Leverkusen are 10 points clear of champions Bayern with eight games remaining.

Xabi Alonso on touchline duty
Leverkusen have won 33 and drawn five of their matches this season

They are also in the semi-finals of the German Cup and the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

"Let's say if he had two or three more years of success, it would probably be easier to bring him out of there," Hoeness said.

Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim and Brighton's Roberto de Zerbi have also been linkedexternal-link with the Liverpool job.

The Football News Show: What are Xabi Alonso's ambitions after Bayer Leverkusen job?
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1243 comments

  • Comment posted by chuckles47, at 19:58 28 Mar

    I hate that Bayern's only strategy is "any team in the league gets anything good, buy it. Not only to strengthen us but more so weaken them".

    It's boring. It feels like Scottish football but with only one team.

    • Reply posted by PFD, at 20:00 28 Mar

      PFD replied:
      Feels like Man City.

  • Comment posted by the frantic four, at 19:57 28 Mar

    Is it just me that thinks that this Bayern president is bang out of order publicly tapping up Alonso. Arrogant behaviour.

    • Reply posted by User0921224906, at 20:04 28 Mar

      User0921224906 replied:
      Bayern fan here. All I can do is advise you to ignore what he says, because all he does, is end up annoying Bayern supporters as well.

  • Comment posted by 2aez3kce, at 19:40 28 Mar

    I hope he stays and builds a legacy in an old fashion way with an unfashionable club, like a Brian Clough or Bobby Robson etc...

    • Reply posted by Blue Billion Pound Bottle Jobs, at 20:25 28 Mar

      Blue Billion Pound Bottle Jobs replied:
      Sorry mate, those days are long gone and will never return. It is now strictly a business with each manager out to get the best opportunities for themselves.
      If Alonso were to stay and he has a bad run next season, the club wouldn't hesitate to let him go.

  • Comment posted by FootballKing, at 19:46 28 Mar

    What’s wrong with Klopps Assistant Lijnders ???

    Personally we have a good team, he knows the system he knows the players and we don’t need a major overhaul and the fans like the way we play.

    Give the lad a chance LFC, why pay a fortune for someone who won’t know the players or the team. Just give this guy some support and back the system that works and is in place.

    • Reply posted by Mr B, at 19:51 28 Mar

      Mr B replied:
      Because he is going else where I believe most likely Ajax

  • Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 19:58 28 Mar

    Huge respect to Xabi Alonso to stay loyal to Bayer Leverkusen. If he can win the Bundesliga he will brake the Bayern monopoly and attract more players. He is clearly a gifted manager both tactically and technically and I don't think any offer from Liverpool or Madrid will be entertained. Loyalty is a rarity in football so if he remains at Leverkusen that will be special.

    • Reply posted by Griffin Stewart, at 20:14 28 Mar

      Griffin Stewart replied:
      Well said. I think al lot of people need to look at how well B04 are run as well. A great club, they’ve produced some amazing home grown talent and their scouts have found some gems who’ve gone on to be stars around Europe. Great ground to visit as well and a cracking atmosphere. Alonso can do great things there and it’s almost inevitable he’ll end up at Anfield down the line.

  • Comment posted by PFD, at 19:38 28 Mar

    Staying at Leverkusen and repeating this seasons success would only elevate his standing and credibility.

    • Reply posted by And I said, at 19:44 28 Mar

      And I said replied:
      Also the smartest decision for Alonso.

      Plus I rate De Zerbi higher, they play like City but without the star players and that's all down to the managers influence.

  • Comment posted by Jasperuno, at 19:57 28 Mar

    Is it just me, or is Bayern Munich really annoying? Quashing competition all the time in the Bundesliga so they have an excuse to be in the Champions League.
    Well, at least it isn't as bad as the French League.

    • Reply posted by User0921224906, at 20:05 28 Mar

      User0921224906 replied:
      We are annoying... because we have guys in the board who you could pay a billion pounds to try and keep quiet for 2 minutes, and fail within 2 seconds.

  • Comment posted by BiggMarketboulevardier, at 20:09 28 Mar

    He’ll end up at Watford, everyone ends up at Watford.

    • Reply posted by Pinto, at 20:13 28 Mar

      Pinto replied:
      I didn’t

  • Comment posted by PFD, at 19:46 28 Mar

    Fashionable can become unfashionable very quickly. Steven Gerrard was the successor to Klopp, look what happened there. Same could happen to Alonso, stick with Leverkusen and bide your time.

    • Reply posted by penguin, at 20:12 28 Mar

      penguin replied:
      Rubbish , Gerrard needs to work his way up but he can't ,as his ego is too big it's the same with Lampard and Rooney . Alonso is different .

  • Comment posted by Redman, at 20:39 28 Mar

    Bayern have absolutely no class to publicly be talking about hiring the manager of their closest rival. Shameless club that has become used to doing whatever it wants in Germany with impunity.

    • Reply posted by The-Artful-Dodga, at 21:26 28 Mar

      The-Artful-Dodga replied:
      A complete disregard for their current campaign too. Hardly motivatory for Tuchel

  • Comment posted by Freedom is not Free, at 19:53 28 Mar

    See what happens

    I’d like him at Anfield but wouldn’t cry if he didn’t

    • Reply posted by Blue Billion Pound Bottle Jobs, at 20:27 28 Mar

      Blue Billion Pound Bottle Jobs replied:
      You still might cry depending on who does come in, if Alonso doesn't. 😉

  • Comment posted by Bensons Buddy, at 19:35 28 Mar

    If I were him I’d stay put for another year or two. Following klopp would be hard, Bayern need a bit of a rebuild, a bit more success would attract every big club putting Alonso in a great position.

    • Reply posted by User0921224906, at 19:39 28 Mar

      User0921224906 replied:
      a bit? We've been dysfunctional, or more contented with making headlines than getting further in the Champions League, even since Hoeness appointed and chose Brazzo(Salihamidzic) to be our Sporting Director. Also? When Hoeness says something like this, ignore him. He'll say anything, and when it comes to headlines, Hoeness always says something outlandish or "big-time".

  • Comment posted by Jfrezno23, at 19:42 28 Mar

    He’s most likely going to stay at Leverkusen and go to Madrid when Ancelotti leaves

  • Comment posted by badgermeat, at 20:03 28 Mar

    Why wouldn't you want to have a crack at the CL with a team clearly in the midst of creating something special?

    • Reply posted by Space Unicorn of News, at 20:19 28 Mar

      Space Unicorn of News replied:
      A much bigger salary
      A bigger budget to buy top players
      The possibility that he has a bad season at Leverkusen next season and the big clubs never come calling again.

  • Comment posted by Matt, at 19:38 28 Mar

    If he stays at Leverkusen it means he's going to Real Madrid when Ancelotti's contract comes to an end.

    • Reply posted by thegreatestsportfan, at 19:58 28 Mar

      thegreatestsportfan replied:
      Klopp might be going to R Madrid after his break.

  • Comment posted by Anders, at 05:40 29 Mar

    “Liverpool expect Alonso to stay” claims the headline and then proceeds to quote a Bayern Műnchen chief. Odd reporting by BBC

    • Reply posted by Paul L, at 06:02 29 Mar

      Paul L replied:
      Lazy reporting.

  • Comment posted by MyOpinionCounts-just, at 19:46 28 Mar

    Looks likes he's staying at Leverkusen then cos apparently there's no chance of Liverpool getting him either.

    Waiting for Real Madrid maybe???

    • Reply posted by S Jake, at 19:54 28 Mar

      S Jake replied:
      I wouldn't trust anything said to the media by anyone who has a vested interest in this (at least not prior to an official announcement). It's all smoke and mirrors.

  • Comment posted by eric, at 19:41 28 Mar

    Apparently Southgate is a elite manager

  • Comment posted by User0921224906, at 19:42 28 Mar

    Uli? Please for the love of Christ, just don't say anything. The last thing Bayern need, is an increase in headlines for absolutely no reason at all. Let Dreesen handle this. We need to be perfect from here on out, so Uli... please keep quiet. I'm begging you.

    • Reply posted by cooperman, at 09:03 29 Mar

      cooperman replied:
      Wow does Uli read Points of View? Uli, loved you in the '74 EC final against Atletico Madrid.

  • Comment posted by The-Artful-Dodga, at 21:18 28 Mar

    Even as a Liverpool fan, I hope he stays at Leverkusen. One year of champions keague footy and then the prem maybe. My money is on Amorim

    • Reply posted by cb, at 13:00 29 Mar

      cb replied:
      Alonso should stay at Lever, prove its not just a one season hit, once he's done a season in the CL w them, then see if a big job is available... Most likely any club who thinks he's the next talented manager will no doubt ditch a manager for one of europe's elite coaches once he's availble.
      If its the Madrid, City or Liverpool jobs then you'll take los blancos.

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