Xabi Alonso has revealed why he passed up the opportunity to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool head coach.
Alonso shared that he was focused on winning the German Bundesliga last season, and as such, he zeroed his mind on exiting Bayer Leverkusen.
Xabi Alonso was linked with the managerial role at Liverpool in March 2024 after Klopp announced in January 2024 that he would be departing the club at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Despite the allure of handling one of the biggest teams in football, Alonso opted to remain with Bayer Leverkusen for at least one more season.
Xabi Alonso Reveals Why He Snubbed Liverpool
Speaking in a pre-match presser ahead of Bayern Leverkusen’s clash with Liverpool on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Xabi Alonso said:
“I saw the links to replace Klopp… but at that time I was focused on winning the league. We were only working on that, I didn’t negotiate with clubs.”
Xabi Alonso’s Feat At Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso steered Bayer Leverkusen to the German Bundesliga title last term and helped them claim the DFB POKAL while setting a European record of 51 games in a row without loss across all competitions.
Alonso’s Leverkusen also became the first team to complete an entire Bundesliga season without defeat.
Liverpool Opted To Appoint Arne Slot As Head Coach
Liverpool ultimately went for PSV Eindhoven boss Arne Slot and the Dutchman has done an impressive job coaching the Anfield side.
The Reds occupy the summit of the Premier League table with 25 points after 10 league matches, as they are 2 points better than Manchester City, who sit 2nd on the log, having amassed 23 points thus far.
Liverpool are also in a good position for automatic qualification to the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League while also battling squarely to win other cup competitions.
Xabi Alonso, who played for Liverpool during his playing career, is yet to lose a game in the UEFA Champions League this term, winning 2 games and drawing 1.
Bayer Leverkusen also sit 4th on the German Bundesliga table, having amassed 16 points from 9 matches, 7 points behind league leaders Bayern Munich.
It is uncertain if he can guide them to the heights they achieved in the 2023/24 season, but it will be fascinating to see how they fare this term.
What Next For Xabi Alonso?
Alonso has been linked with the Real Madrid managerial position, with rumors surfacing that Carlo Ancelotti could be exiting the Spanish giants at the end of the 2024/25 season.
There could also be an opening for him at Manchester City at the end of the season if Pep Guardiola decides not to sign a contract extension with the Cityzens.
Xabi Alonso is also considered to be one of the best young managers in the world, with his tactical approach also fascinating to many globally.
The 42-year-old has in the past taken charge of the B team of Spanish side Real Sociedad.
Alonso was named the Globe Soccer Best Coach of the Year in 2024 and he also received the Football Manager of the Year in Germany in the same year.
