When Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp officially announced that he would be leaving the Anfield club this coming summer, the speculation surrounding his potential replacement has spanned almost everyone in the managerial world from Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti to Brighton and Hove Albion’s Roberto De Zerbi.
One firm favourite on the rumour mill, almost from the very beginning, was former Anfield star Xabi Alonso, and for good reason as well. The 42 year old Spanish international midfielder spent a four year spell on Merseyside and was incredibly well loved by their fan base, helping them to the FA Cup, FA Community Shield, Champions League and Super Cup.
Having hung up his boots back at the end of the 2016/17 campaign following his final season with German Bundesliga side Bayern Munich, Alonso took further steps towards the world of management and having cut his teeth in a three year spell with Real Sociedad B, he made the move back to the Bundesliga in October 2022 to take charge of Bayer Leverkusen.
He is now 76 games into his tenure, having racked up 51 wins and 15 draws, and with a positive 97 goal difference, it is no surprise to see them top the German top flight table by 13 clear points following the end of the March international break.
With 23 wins from 27 games, the remainder of the results were draws and they are yet to suffer a single league defeat. By comparison, nearest chasers Bayern Munich, have already been on the wrong end of a result five times.
Looking at his record, his playing ethos and the prior tie to Liverpool, it is understandable as to why he was quickly installed as the favourite to fill Klopp’s boots, but it seems that this speculation was well off base.
Alonso has now spoken to the press to address the rumours that have been swirling around, and he revealed that he had spoken directly to the clubs’ board last week to insist that he would be remaining with them for the coming campaign, as he felt he was in the ‘right place’ to both continue his development as a young coach, whilst also being in the position to battle for what many would have felt was unlikely success.
Alonso had also been naturally linked with the Bayern job given Thomas Tuchel will be leaving Munich at the end of the season, and he explained the timing of the decision as follows.
“I am convinced it is the right decision, I am happy. Until now we have had so many games, been pretty busy and focused, and I wanted to reflect during the international break and take a decision. The players gave me so many reasons to keep believing in the team, my job is not over here. We have speculated enough. I want to enjoy wherever I am and I am enjoying it at Leverkusen.”
Whether that ends the speculation is open for debate, but we can certainly expect to see other names now more strongly linked with the Liverpool job, and there will be fans of some Premier League clubs out there who hope it is not their gaffer.