'It had a big influence on me' - Xabi Alonso's worrying Bayern update

Xabi Alonso is the frontrunner to replace Jurgen Klopp as manager of Liverpool with the German set to step down from his role at the end of the season. 

Citing fatigue, the 56-year-old revealed in January that he no longer felt that he had the energy to go on. 

Alonso, the Bayer Leverkusen manager, was immediately installed as favourite to succeed Klopp with the Liverpool supremo himself declaring the Spaniard as the “standout” coach of his generation. 

Leverkusen are eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga having capitalised on a nightmare Bayern Munich season and saw off their title rivals, 3-0, two weekends ago in a statement performance. 

And because of that, Liverpool are not the only club interested in appointing the World Cup-winning former midfielder. 

It was announced on Wednesday that Thomas Tuchel would leave his post as Bayern boss by mutual consent at the end of the season with his club well off the pace in the German league and on the brink of being knocked out of the Champions League by Lazio. 

FC Hollywood are therefore staring down the barrel of a first trophyless season in 12 years with a “sporting realignment” - the words of club CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen - set for the summer. 

According to reports in Germany, Alonso tops the Bayern list of coaches and it’s not only Liverpool where he has playing heritage. 

Alonso remembers his Bayern days fondly

Signed by Pep Guardiola in 2014, Alonso spent three seasons at the Allianz Arena, winning three Bundesliga titles amid a total of 117 appearances. 

The Bayern higher-ups are reported to be impressed by Alonso’s development as a coach, first at Real Sociedad B and at Leverkusen where he has converted the side from relegation contenders to champions-elect in less than two years. 

It may well be that Alonso has the choice between Liverpool and Bayern this summer with both hotseats available at the same time. 

He delivered some comments to the official Bayern website in March 2023 which suggest he remembers his playing days there fondly and he could yet be appointed as Tuchel’s successor in a blow to Liverpool. 

“I happily remember my years in Munich. It was a special time from the first day till the last,” he said. “I finished my career as a player there. It was something special for all of us. The memories are all very positive.”  

Alonso was enticed to the Bayer Leverkusen job as a replacement for Gerardo Seoane in October 2022 with the club close to the bottom of the table. He was with Real Sociedad, coaching their B team, when the recruitment team led by Managing Director Sport Simon Rolfes came calling. 

And the man who won the Champions League with Liverpool in Istanbul in 2005 then revealed his reasons for returning to Germany as manager. 

“It’s to do with my experience as a player in the Bundesliga and my last years I spent at Bayern,” he said. 

“That time had a big influence on me. I knew this would be a good step in my coaching career, and I’m very happy in Leverkusen.”