Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will remain as Bayer Leverkusen head coach beyond the end of this season.
In his press conference on Friday, Alonso explained that Leverkusen was the “right place for me”.
The Athletic reported on Thursday that Liverpool have long been aware that the Spaniard was unlikely to leave the Bundesliga club and are pursuing other managerial targets as they continue their search for Jurgen Klopp’s successor.
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Alonso was also seen as Bayern Munich’s top choice to replace outgoing head coach Thomas Tuchel, but has now publicly committed his future to Leverkusen.
“My job is not over here,” Alonso said. “Putting everything together, I’ve taken this important decision. I am convinced it’s the right one.
“This is my first full season as a manager. I still have a lot of things to prove and to experience. Right now, I have situation where I feel really stable and happy.”
Alonso is on the brink of leading Leverkusen to their first ever Bundesliga title in his first full debut season in first-team management, with the side 10 points ahead of Bayern with eight matches remaining. The 42-year-old joined a struggling Leverkusen side in October 2022 and guided them to a sixth-placed finish and Europa League qualification.
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“It’s been a season with a lot of speculation regarding my future,” Alonso added. “We’ve had so many games and been pretty busy and focused — I wanted to use the international break to reflect a little bit better and take a decision.
“Last week, I had a very good meeting with Simon (Rolfes sporting director), with Fernando (Carro, chief executive), when I informed them of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen.
“At the moment, this is the right place for me to develop as a coach, I am a young coach. Right now, this is the right place. I have to thank the management. The club has been supportive and I feel respected by all departments.
“The fans have shown great support and they have reasons to believe and dream we will have a great season. I have a great staff to help me work day to day, and of course the players. They give me so many reasons to keep believing in this team.”
Klopp, meanwhile, was asked about Alonso’s decision later on Friday, saying: “Being a young manager at a club doing really well, I had a similar situation. I did pretty much the same if you want and never regretted it.
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“He’s doing an incredible job there. Leverkusen have a good team and they will probably keep their team together. That’s possible this year. Not every year is like that.
“I understand why he wants to do that (stay).”
Alonso had emerged as the favourite for the Liverpool job after Klopp announced he will leave at the end of the season after nine years at the Anfield club.
The former Real Madrid midfielder won the 2005 Champions League and the FA Cup the following campaign during a five-year spell on Merseyside.
He began his coaching career in 2018 with Real Madrid’s under-14s before taking charge of Real Sociedad’s B team in 2019.
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Additional reporting: Seb Stafford-Bloor, James Pearce
(Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)