Why Xabi Alonso left a club president in awe during interview

Xabi Alonso left Marseilles president Pablo Longoria in awe during a 2022 interview. The Spaniard is wanted at Liverpool.

Xabi Alonso has quickly established himself as one of the most in-demand managers in Europe right now. It's not difficult to figure out why.

Bayer Leverkusen sit at the top of the Bundesliga and unbeaten - in fact, they're undefeated across all competitions this season. They're even closing in on the German record.

This isn't exactly a surprise to some, either. Alonso impressed while in charge of Real Sociedad's B team before taking the job at Leverkusen and the German side weren't the only ones to contact him.

Marseille president Pablo Longoria admits he talked to Alonso, too, but failed to convince the Spaniard to take over in France. Despite the rejection, he was left seriously impressed.

"It was after Jorge [Sampaoli was fired in 2022],” he said, per So Foot. "So I went to see him.

"He told me no with elegance - the same he had when he played football. He was saying no to me, I should have been pissed off, but I almost wanted to thank him.

"You see that his brain is going at a different speed."

As for why Alonso said no, Longoria had this to say: "He knew exactly the three-four clubs he wanted to coach and was ready to wait for them."

Virtually everyone who has talked to Alonso about his managerial goals has had the same to say and how one of those clubs is Liverpool. Now the Anfield role is soon to be vacant - and the former Red supposedly tops the list of candidates.

It all does seem to be falling into place. Here's an incredibly impressive young manager who's achieving remarkable things right now, who also knows the club inside out while actively wanting to work there.

It almost seems too good to be true.