Xabi Alonso: Leverkusen star hints manager will leave amid Liverpool interest

Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky says no one at the club will stand in Xabi Alonso’s way should he decide to quit at the end of the season for the vacant managerial role at either Liverpool or Bayern Munich. 

Alonso, 42, has led Leverkusen to the brink of a first-ever Bundesliga title with his side 10 points clear of Bayern with only eight matches remaining. 

Leverkusen are undefeated in their last 38 matches and have broken records left, right and centre throughout this landmark campaign. 

The club are still in with a shout of a treble with a Europa League quarter-final against West Ham to come as well as a DFB-Pokal semi-final against Dusseldorf. 

The 2010 World Cup winner’s achievements with Leverkusen have led to him becoming the frontrunner to replace both Jurgen Klopp at Anfield and Thomas Tuchel at Bayern. 

With his manager under contract until 2026, Hradecky would love for him to stay but understands why he might choose to walk away at the end of this season should success be achieved. 

"That’s our wish and dream [for him to stay],” the Finn told the Daily Mail. 

“Of course, no one would be angry or argue if he wins the Bundesliga and decides to go another route. There’s going to be another open post in the coach’s spot. 

“There’s a lot to ponder but he’s enough of a gentleman to make the right decision and only he knows what’s best for him. 

“We see on a daily basis that he loves to be in Leverkusen. He enjoys Dusseldorf where he lives. From another point of view: How can you make it better than this season?”

Alonso's coaching secrets revealed - 'Hype is justified'

Alonso enjoyed a stellar playing career, winning Champions League titles with Liverpool and Real Madrid, and it’s that big-club mentality that Hradecky says has made the difference for Leverkusen since Alonso took over from Gerardo Seoane in October 2022. 

“He brings standards, a winning mentality, train how you play and how you go on every action in every training session with intensity,” he said. 

“That's where the real secret is. We are pretty clear about what we do. Tactically, he's fantastic. How we think about corners, pressing the game, staying low. He brings football intelligence with him.

"You guys don't see him on a daily basis but the atmosphere he’s brought in Leverkusen - we didn’t have it before. I think it comes from the way he has experienced football. 

"He lives the game as he did when he was a player. In Madrid, Liverpool - that’s the level we strive for every day. It was here when he came but it’s up here right now. The hype is definitely justified.”

Leverkusen are 'hellishly difficult' to play against

Leverkusen were in the relegation zone when Alonso was appointed after initialising his coaching career with Real Sociedad’s B team. 

The former midfielder is one of the world's best managers according to former Spain and Liverpool team-mate Fernando Torres and has instilled an incredible spirit and mentality in the Leverkusen squad, qualities which make the champions-elect “hellishly difficult” to play against, according to Hradecky. 

“It’s the best Leverkusen team I’ve experienced,” says the goalkeeper, who is closing in on 250 matches for the club. 

“We have 18, 19, 20 players - and it doesn’t matter who plays. There are a lot of different tactics. There’s a lot to take in from the opponents’ perspective. It’s hellishly difficult to play against us.”