Xabi Alonso, the Bayern Munich and Liverpool manager who has been the subject of speculation, has announced that he is staying put.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the match against Hoffenheim on Monday, Alonso said: “It’s been a season where there has been a lot of speculation about my future. We have played a lot of games so far. We have been very busy and focused. I used the A-match period to think a little bit about my future and last week I had a very good conversation with Simon Rolfes (Sporting Director) and Fernando Caro (CEO). I told them that I have decided to stay,” he explained.
“I’m not going to comment on Liverpool or Munich. They are big clubs and I have strong ties with them, but I am where I want to be. Now is not the time to decide my future. I want to develop at Leverkusen. There was a lot of speculation. After careful consideration, I decided that this is the right place for me. It’s not over yet and there is still a lot of work to do,” he added.
Earlier, Germany’s Bild reported, “Alonso will soon hold a pre-match press conference ahead of the match against Hoffenheim. He will probably reveal his decision to stay at Leverkusen for the upcoming season,” Bild reported.
Germany’s Sky Sports also reported that “Alonso has decided to stay at Leverkusen and has already made it known that he will not be going to Munich next season. Alonso will explain his decision at today’s pre-match press conference.”
Recently, we’ve seen a number of big names part ways with their organizations at the end of the season. It started with Liverpool. Jürgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool’s golden era, announced his sudden resignation in January. He announced that he needed a break and will leave Anfield at the end of this season.
The club where Kim Min-jae plays, Munich, is also parting ways with Thomas Tuchel. The team has suffered three consecutive defeats in official matches, starting with the last one against Leverkusen, and has been heavily criticized. They have already been eliminated from the DFB Pokal Cup and are in second place in the Bundesliga, 10 points behind Leverkusen, with the league title out of reach. The team’s Champions League round of 16 first leg loss to Lazio further inflamed public opinion. Munich eventually terminated Tuchel’s contract early at the end of the season.
Alonso was the next manager to be touted by both clubs. A world-class midfielder as a player, Alonso first took charge of Leverkusen in October of last season and led the club to the UEFA Europa League (UEL). This season, they have not lost a single official match since the start of the season, finishing first in the table with 70 points, ahead of Munich. Add to that a DFB Pokal Cup quarterfinal appearance and a Europa League quarterfinal appearance, and you have one of Europe’s biggest ‘breakout’ seasons.
Alonso’s contract runs until 2025. With Alonso himself announcing his stay, it seems likely that he will continue his journey with Leverkusen.