Liverpool Cautioned About Pursuing Alonso as Leverkusen Director Predicts Outcome
Bayer Leverkusen’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, has confidently predicted that their star head coach, Xabi Alonso, will remain at the club next season. The 42-year-old Alonso is arguably the most sought-after manager in Europe, with Leverkusen currently five points clear at the top of the Bundesliga after their impressive 3-0 win over Bayern Munich.
Alonso’s reputation is through the roof after his team’s stunning demolition of Bayern. This victory not only solidified Leverkusen’s position at the top of the league but also gave Alonso an impressive record of 27 wins, zero defeats, and 93 goals from 31 games this season.
Reports have claimed that Alonso has a release clause in his contract for three of his former clubs: Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich. Initially, there were rumors of a potential return to the Bernabeu, but those evaporated when Carlo Ancelotti signed a new contract until 2026 in December. It seemed like Leverkusen could breathe easy.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s decision to step down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season has instantly put Alonso at the top of the betting odds for the vacant position. Liverpool legend Didi Hamann has even outlined why Alonso would be the perfect choice to replace Klopp at the Reds.
Despite the speculation, Rolfes remains confident that Alonso will stay at Leverkusen. When asked if he thinks Alonso will be with the club next season, Rolfes responded, “Yes. I’m sure because one thing is the contract and what kind of contract he has, but another thing is how comfortable he feels here, how his family feels. Also, he knows what he has in the team; he knows he’s got a really good team and that he is going to have a really good chance to win trophies next season as well. There won’t be big changes or players leaving next year, so we’ll surely have a top team available to us. I think these are all things beside the contract that keep coaches like Xabi and also players with us.”
Rolfes has been widely applauded for his decision to hire Alonso as head coach in October 2022. The 2005 Champions League winner arrived from Real Sociedad for his first senior head coaching role and has already made a significant impact. Under Alonso’s guidance, Leverkusen went from the relegation zone to qualifying for the Europa League, where they have also excelled this season.
Discussing Alonso’s coaching style, Rolfes said, “He surprises me every now and then. What we and he always say internally is that everyone has their role and we have a good squad. Everyone has the quality to play their part. Xabi has the courage to not only commit to an eleven but also to say: I’ll adapt the system and bring other guys onto the pitch. We are not trapped in the system that is based on how we play football.”
While Liverpool may be eyeing Alonso as a potential replacement for Klopp, Rolfes’ confidence suggests that the German club will not let their highly successful coach go without a fight. With Leverkusen on the verge of claiming their first German top-flight title, it seems likely that Alonso will continue to lead the team to further success in the seasons to come.