After a good season, it’s already over!
Bayer Leverkusen separates from coach Gerardo Seoane (43). The club announced this on Wednesday evening. Ex-Bayern professional Xabi Alonso (40) takes over.
The last business trip as a Leverkusen coach: Gerardo Seoane on his way home to Germany after the 2-0 defeat in Porto
BILD had already reported that after the 0: 2 in Porto in the Champions League all signs point to a separation. Seoane herself initially knew nothing about the decision and prepared herself normally for training.
After returning from Portugal, he left the Leverkusen training ground at 4:50 p.m. For the last time …
The dismissal had indicated: The bosses made no more statements about the future of the coach after the game.
Leverkusen’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes (40), in the club’s statement: “Gerardo Seoane has done a good job for Bayer 04 over the past year and a half, above all by qualifying for the Champions League. Unfortunately, we have strayed from the road to success. The early exit from the DFB Cup, but in particular the current position in the Bundesliga, which is far below our expectations, made the change of coach absolutely necessary from our point of view.”
Klub-Boss Fernando Carro (58): “The separation is not easy for us. But in our current situation we see no other option.”
Seoane had that Bundesliga clubs taken over at the start of last season, Leverkusen in third place and in the Champions League guided. In the current season, however, the Swiss has only won two of twelve competitive games. The bankruptcies also include the embarrassing 3:4 in the first round of the DFB Cup at third division Elversberg.
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Leverkusen already has a successor for Seoane: Ex-Bayern professional Xabi Alonso takes over the post. After things didn’t work out with Gladbach in March 2021, the world and European champions of 2010, 2008 and 2012 (most recently three years as head coach at San Sebastian B) will now be a Bundesliga coach at the second attempt. He has agreed a contract with Leverkusen until 2024.
Xabi Alonso played for Liverpool, Real Madrid and FC Bayern, among others
Alonso has a mammoth task ahead of him in Leverkusen. In the league, the club is in 17th place with just five points from eight games. International business – actually even the Champions League – is the goal of the Rhinelanders.
In the club’s press release, Alonso is quoted as follows: “I know Leverkusen from my time in Germany as an excellent club. Bayer 04 have always had great players and I see a lot of quality in the current squad too. In my talks with the club, it quickly became clear that despite the current difficult situation, ambitious goals are still being pursued. I am very excited about this task and I am sure that we will live up to this claim.”
After all: In the Champions League, the round of 16 is still within reach. Leverkusen is tied with Porto and Atlético in third place – only Bruges can hardly be caught (nine points).
The club no longer trusts Seoane to get the curve.
