The information of Jurgen Klopp stepping down from his function as Liverpool supervisor on the finish of the present 2023-24 season instantly launched hypothesis over his attainable successor. Bayer Leverkusen coach and Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso is taken into account one of many frontrunners for the job, as he is at present main the Bundesliga desk with Leverkusen and his workforce remains to be unbeaten to this point this season.
The information of Klopp’s departure was a shock for lots of the folks working within the soccer business, and the identical was true of Alonso, who was requested throughout a pre-match press convention forward of the sport in opposition to Borussia Mönchengladbach about his future plans. He responded with reward for Klopp. “Large shock in Liverpool, in fact, for what Jurgen did in Liverpool I’ve nice respect and admiration.”
When pressed extra about his intentions for his fast future on the membership, Alonso did his greatest to defuse the Liverpool discuss.
“Hypothesis is regular. My focus is right here in Leverkusen and have massive motivation and I’m very pleased working with these gamers. My focus is for tomorrow.”
Alonso was requested if he can rule out turning into the subsequent Liverpool supervisor.
“Wow! It is a direct query, I haven’t got a direct reply. We’re in an intense however lovely journey and I am attempting to present my greatest. I’m not in that second to consider the subsequent job. I’m in the appropriate place now. What is going on to occur sooner or later I do not actually know and do not actually care for the time being.”
It is clear that there is a massive probability he’ll depart on the finish of the season, no matter what he’ll obtain with the German membership. Xabi Alonso was linked with Actual Madrid as nicely, earlier than the Spanish giants confirmed a brand new deal for Carlo Ancelotti till the summer season 2026.
Alonso performed with Liverpool from 2004 to 2009, enjoying 210 video games and scored 19 objectives in all competitions. Among the many titles received, he lifted the 2004-2005 UEFA Champions League, after beating AC Milan on penalties. After teaching the Actual Madrid Academy, he joined Actual Sociedad B in 2019, earlier than Bayer Leverkusen appointed him in 2022. In his first season in Germany, Bayer ended sixth within the desk and have been eradicated by AS Roma within the UEFA Europa League semifinals, whereas this season they’re preventing to win the Bundesliga title for the primary time in membership’s historical past. They’re at present 4 factors forward of Bayer Munich and are nonetheless unbeaten in all competitions (27 wins, three attracts to this point).
