XABI Alonso has decided to remain as Bayer Leverkusen manager for at least another season despite reported interest from Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
Both Bayern Munich and Liverpool are in the hunt for new managers with Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp set to leave at the end of this campaign, and Alonso has been heavily linked with the German and English giants.
Super Eagles of Nigeria striker Victor Boniface has thrived under Alonso, who has led Bayer Leverkusen to the top of the German Bundesliga and the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals without losing a single game in all competitions all season.
“It’s been a season we have had a lot of speculation regarding my future. Until now we have had so many games, been pretty busy and focused, and I wanted to reflect during the international break and take a decision,” Alonso, who played for both Bayern Munich and Liverpool in an illustrious career, told a press conference today.
“Last week I had a very good meeting when I informed of them [Leverkusen’s directors] of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen. For sure all the decisions you need to analyse well. I try to take the right ones, I try to take them in a natural way.
“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 had been supportive and I feel respected by all departments. The fans they 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 by day, and so for sure the players.”
The 42-year-old former Spain international insisted that the speculation about his future did not affect him as he went about his business.
“Last week was my deadline for sure. All my cards on the table. I have thought about the decision because you need to reflect well,” he noted.
“Once I took it I felt I needed to share it with everyone. It is a sign of respect. I informed the players at a team talk this morning. We have prepared in a normal way.
“You guys did a lot of speculation – even since last May! It’s part of the business, and I haven’t been stressed by it. It was important it wasn’t affecting the team and the mentality of the team was good. Everything is clear.”
Alonso, who also featured in midfield for Real Madrid, said he ‘respects’ the club’s he was linked with but is fully focused on Bayer Leverkusen.
“I think it wouldn’t be correct of me to talk about other clubs when they are in this situation. For sure there are clubs I have a strong link, I played there. So I respect them. But it’s not correct for me to talk about them right now,” Alonso added.
“It’s more that the conviction I am in the right place at Bayer Leverkusen and I want to keep growing with the club, growing with the players. I am at this stage in my young career. I had to feel the decision was in a natural way and that’s why I have taken it.”
When asked if it was a commitment for beyond next year, until the end of his contract in 2026, Alonso said: “It’s my contract. We are not starting to speculate more about the future. We have speculated enough. I want to enjoy wherever I am and I am enjoying it at Leverkusen. I want to match the ambition with the club. That’s my wish for the future.”
