Xabi Alonso of Bayer Leverkusen a strong contender for Tottenham manager role

TalkSPORT has learned that Tottenham is considering Xabi Alonso for the manager’s job at the club, but his arrival is not expected this season. Spurs are in search of a new manager after sacking two this season, Antonio Conte and interim coach Cristian Stellini. Ryan Mason has been promoted to caretaker boss until the end of the season, but club chairman Daniel Levy knows he cannot afford to get many more managerial decisions wrong after the failures of Stellini, Conte, Jose Mourinho, and Nuno Espirito Santo. Tottenham has identified Alonso as a potential option, adding to a growing list of possible candidates. Julian Nagelsmann, Vincent Kompany, Arne Slot, and Ruben Amorim are also among the favorites. However, while many had regarded Nagelsmann as Levy’s main target, it has been reported that the German is distancing himself from the job due to uncertainty surrounding the sporting director’s role. Alonso has impressed with his tactical nous in the Bundesliga, where pundits have praised their attacking style. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder is building a reputation as a fine coach since taking on the Leverkusen job in 2022. When he took over at the BayArena in October this season, Leverkusen were second from bottom, but they now find themselves sixth. It has been a dramatic transformation that has largely been aided by Alonso’s ability to get the best out of a youthful team. Alonso played under Guardiola while he was at Bayern Munich as part of an extensive career where he had immense success at Real Madrid and Liverpool as well. He also knows the Premier League well having spent five years at Anfield, where he won the Champions League in 2005. At international level, Alonso has won the World Cup and European Championship with Spain. Several other clubs in the Premier League have been linked with the former midfielder, including his old club Liverpool and West Ham.