Xabi Alonso, who was seen by many as Liverpool’s top target to replace Jurgen Klopp as their manager, said on Friday he is staying at Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen next season.The 42-year-old Spaniard has Leverkusen on course for a trophy treble, including their first ever German league crown.”It’s been a season of speculation regarding my future,” Alonso told a press conference.”Up till now we have been busy and focused on the season and I wanted to reflect during the international break and take a decision.”Last week I had a meeting when I informed (Leverkusen’s directors) of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen.”Alonso said he was still developing as a coach and he felt Leverkusen, his first senior team coaching post, is the best place for him to continue growing.”At the moment this is the right place for me to develop as a coach, I am a young coach,” he said.”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.”This man is something else: Liverpool and Bayern Munich give up on signing Xabi AlonsoAlonso has a contract until 2026 but had been linked with moves to Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, all clubs where he spent time as a player, having done a stunning job at runaway Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen.Leverkusen are unbeaten this term with 34 victories and four draws and are 10 points clear of Bayern Munich and on track for their first ever Bundesliga title with eight games remaining this season.The former Spain midfielder, who was a member of the side that won the Euro in 2008 and 2012 as well as the 2010 World Cup, is aiming to complete a treble.Aside from topping the table they are in the final four of the German Cup and the quarter-finals of the Europa League and could potentially meet Liverpool in the final.Alonso’s coaching experience was limited to the Real Sociedad B team when he was appointed Leverkusen coach in October 2022, but he showed he had natural talent as a coach as he saved them from relegation.Speaking in Liverpool after Alonso had made his announcement, Klopp said he understood his decision.”He is doing an incredible job there. Leverkusen has a good team and they will probably keep the team together,” Klopp said.”That’s a possibility and not all years it is like that. So I understand that he wants to do that.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7992986##Klopp shocked the football world when he announced in January he would be standing down from the Liverpool job after a hugely successful nine-year stay.In 2020 he delivered their first league title since 1990, a year after landing the 2019 Champions League.Alonso preferred not to comment directly about the Liverpool vacancy or indeed Bayern Munich, who were hoping to attract him to replace Thomas Tuchel, who is leaving at the end of the season.Tuchel’s departure is a consequence of Alonso’s success – should Leverkusen hold their nerve and lift the Bundesliga trophy it will bring to an end Bayern’s run of 11 successive league crowns.”I think it wouldn’t be correct of me to talk about other clubs when they are in this situation,” said Alonso, who remains a devoted Liverpool fan and encouraged his son to be one as well.”For sure there are clubs I have a strong link, I play there. So I respect them. But it’s not correct for me to talk about them right now.”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.”Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim is the new front-runner with the bookmakers ahead of Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann.At just 39, the former Portugal international has already made a name for himself in his homeland.Amorim’s first job came at Braga in 2019, where he lasted just over two months and 13 games before Sporting paid his 10 million euro ($11 million) release clause to take over at the Lisbon giants.##EDITORS_CHOICE##That faith in his ability was well-rewarded as he delivered a first league title in 19 years in his first season in charge in 2020/21.Sporting only managed to finish second and fourth for the past two years but are on course for a league and cup double this season.De Zerbi has the perfect opportunity to make his case and spoil Klopp’s farewell when Brighton visit Anfield on Sunday.The Italian’s first game in English football was a thrilling 3-3 draw away to Liverpool and Brighton then beat Klopp’s men twice in the Premier League and FA Cup at home least season.Nagelsmann was once considered the rising star of European coaching himself after impressing at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig.An ill-fated spell at Bayern Munich set him back, but he could redeem his reputation with Germany at a home European Championship.After a difficult start to his time in charge of the national team, friendly victories over France and the Netherlands have given the German public hope of a summer to remember.However, Nagelsmann’s involvement at the tournament could count against his case for the Anfield hot seat.Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly against Arsenal comes just over two weeks after the final of the Euros.🚨🔴🇵🇹 Ruben Amorim remains the main name on Liverpool list as new head coach; not the only one but concrete option being considered.Liverpool are informed about the clause into his contract at Sporting, as already reported weeks ago.Shortlist also includes more candidates. pic.twitter.com/xAc69Ur8eW— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 29, 2024 © Agence France-Presse
