Coach Xabi Alonso will stay with Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen beyond the end of the season.
At a press conference on Good Friday (March 29, 2024), the successful coach announced that he would remain with the Rhinelanders. Last week he had a good meeting with the club management. “And I informed you that I would continue as coach at Leverkusen,” said the Spaniard, whose contract in Leverkusen runs until 2026.
“There was a lot of speculation. After careful consideration, I made the decision that this was the right place for me. We’re not at the end yet, we still have a lot to do,” said Alonso.
27th matchday arrow right
The 42-year-old, who has been undefeated with his team in 38 competitive games this season, was considered a hot candidate to succeed Thomas Tuchel at FC Bayern Munich.
Interest from Munich and Liverpool
Uli Hoeneß had previously stated that the record champions were interested in signing the sought-after coach. This will be “very difficult, not to say probably impossible,” but the 72-year-old had already put it into perspective in an exclusive interview with BR24Sport. Liverpool FC is also said to have been interested in Alonso.
Exclusive interview: Uli Hoeneß – Alonso at FC Bayern “probably impossible” arrow on the right
Alonso took over Bayer in 17th place on October 5, 2022. After a difficult first few months, advancing to the playoffs for the Europa League in Monaco in February 2023 was a kind of initial spark. Bayer and Alonso have played 57 competitive games since then. They won 42 of them and lost only three.
He led Leverkusen into the Europa League and into the quarter-finals of the current competition. With a ten-point lead over FC Bayern, Bayer has the best chance of winning the championship. In the cup, Leverkusen are the only Bundesliga team favorites in the semi-finals, and they will face West Ham United in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Alonso also introduced eight players into their national team squads for the first time this season. This also applies to Alejandro Grimaldo, who is already 28 years old, or Robert Andrich, who is even a year older.
Coaching career began in Spain
Alonso carefully planned his second career as a coach. He started with Real Madrid’s U14 team, then took over the second team of his hometown club Real Sociedad San Sebastián for three years. He canceled Borussia Mönchengladbach with current Bayern sports director Max Eberl in 2021 because he didn’t feel ready yet.
Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen’s defense is the foundation for the title arrow right
A player with numerous titles, Alonso played for Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern. The ties to all three clubs are so close that a follow-up commitment to any of these teams after his time in Leverkusen would be possible.
