Xabi Alonso, currently at Bayer Leverkusen, has expressed respect for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool after Klopp announced his departure. Alonso, often considered a frontrunner for the Liverpool managerial role, emphasized his current happiness at Leverkusen.
Sitting atop the Bundesliga, unbeaten in all competitions, Alonso highlighted his focus on the ongoing journey with Leverkusen and quelled speculations about a return to Liverpool. While acknowledging Klopp’s significant contributions, Alonso emphasized his commitment to his current position, leaving the prospect of managing Liverpool open but uncertain for the next season.
Despite the managerial vacancy at Liverpool, Alonso’s primary focus remains on his role with Bayer Leverkusen, aiming to guide the team through their challenges and maintaining their successful form in the Bundesliga.
In a previous 2018 interview with Guillem Balague on talkSPORT, Alonso expressed his desire to return to Liverpool as a manager, anticipating that Steven Gerrard, then a youth coach, would likely take on the role first. Alonso acknowledged the need to prove himself and prepare for a managerial role, emphasizing his deep connection, commitment, and passion for Liverpool. Despite his dreams, he recognized Gerrard’s path and anticipated Gerrard’s managerial journey to start earlier due to Gerrard’s established presence at Liverpool.
Following his playing career, Gerrard transitioned to coaching in Liverpool’s youth setup, eventually taking on his first senior management role with Rangers in 2018. Gerrard achieved success with Rangers, winning their first Scottish title in nearly a decade. A subsequent move to the Premier League with Aston Villa in 2021 ended with his dismissal after a year. Gerrard has now found a new role with Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.
In contrast, Alonso’s managerial career has seen success, starting with coaching Real Madrid’s youth teams and Real Sociedad’s B side before joining Bayer Leverkusen in 2022, where he has enjoyed considerable achievements.
