Xabi Alonso
Photo by Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images
When Jurgen Klopp announced his decision to leave Liverpool in January 2024, Liverpool fans immediately anointed Xabi Alonso as his natural successor.
The narrative seemed preordained: a beloved former player, schooled under Rafa Benítez and José Mourinho, now excelling at Bayer Leverkusen, poised to return to Anfield as a Bundesliga winner.
Leverkusen’s Bundesliga dominance under Alonso—unbeaten in 18 matches and four points clear of Bayern Munich at the time—only intensified the romance.
Yet, more than a year later, Liverpool fans scarcely mention Alonso’s name, their affections firmly rooted in Arne Slot’s transformative tenure.
Alonso’s credentials were undeniable. As a player, he had been a big part of Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League triumph in Istanbul.
As a manager, he transformed Leverkusen from Bundesliga relegation candidates into title contenders, blending tactical pragmatism with attacking verve.
By March 2024, however, Liverpool’s hierarchy concluded Alonso would not leave Leverkusen, with it being reported that the Spaniard prioritized continuity over an Anfield homecoming.
Slot’s understated brilliance lies in his ability to evolve without upheaval. He retained Klopp’s core—Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold—while integrating his own kind of style.
His man-management shines in moments like resolving Ryan Gravenberch’s positional doubts, transforming the Dutch midfielder into a linchpin
By February 2025, Liverpool led the Premier League by 11 points, their 2-0 victory at Manchester City—their first at the Etihad in a decade—showcasing Slot’s tactical maturity.
But speaking in Spain over the international break, Xabi Alonso revealed that there was ‘something to decide’ last year, but this time around the situation is a lot calmer with nothing really happening on his front:
“I have not taken any decisions. It was a good break, we needed it,” he said to Spanish outlet AS.
“It was a different situation compared to last year. There was something to decide, and now there isn’t. That’s the difference. I was in Spain last week, yes, but I haven’t spoken to anyone.”
“There’s no deadline. My thoughts are the same. I remain focused on this season. I’ve already said that the focus of our players and myself is on what we have. We’re in a key phase. We don’t want to speculate about anything beyond football.”
Many Reds fans were initially disappointed when it became clear that the Real Sociedad man would not be coming to Anfield.
But in Slot, we’ve found not a Klopp replica, but a visionary unshackled by legacy—a manager proving that sometimes, the best fate is the one you forge yourself.
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