It’s no secret that FC Bayern is looking for a new coach, nor is it that Xabi Alonso is the preferred candidate. But Uli Hoeneß has his doubts as to whether signing the Spaniard will work.
He knows Xabi Alonso from before: Bavaria’s honorary president Uli Hoeneß. IMAGO/Ulrich Wagner
“We would like to sign him,” said Hoeneß Bavarian Radio and emphasized directly that, in his opinion, it would be “very difficult, not to say probably impossible” to bring Xabi Alonso back to Säbener Straße – from 2014 to 2017, the Basque played 117 games for Munich.
The honorary president of the record champions does not consider the chances of a successful return campaign to be particularly great. Why? Hoeneß assumes that Xabi Alonso has no intention of changing clubs. “I can imagine that, the way I’ve gotten to know and appreciate him, he’s more inclined to carry on because he doesn’t want to leave that behind now,” said the 72-year-old, referring to Xabi Alonso’s successful work at Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
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Xabi Alonso “is now training at a club that is currently in the process of becoming German champions,” Hoeneß explained the Werkself’s situation and emphasized that the Basque has “a lot to thank” Leverkusen, but Bayer “also owes him.” Hoeneß thinks that Bayern would “probably have an easier time” getting Xabi Alonso out of Leverkusen if he had had two or three more years of success there.
Sports leadership is a duty
So Hoeneß assumes that signing the Bayer coach will not work, although they don’t want to give up hope – and want to continue to give the Spaniard time. In the event that Xabi Alonso cancels, Hoeneß sees the sporting management’s duty to “look for and find alternatives”. According to kicker information, Ralf Rangnick, current national coach of Austria, would be the first alternative.
Either way: Bayern would like clarity, but they also don’t want to be put under pressure. This is what sports director Max Eberl recently told us Sky Although he said that “it would be nice if we could get it done in April”, he also emphasized that he didn’t want to commit himself: “If it takes a little longer, it just takes a little longer. We want to make the best decision .”
2024-03-28 17:19:13
#Xabi #Alonso #Bayern #Hoeneß #doubts
