Xabi Alonso ‘is smart and will do what is best for him’, Dominic King says on It’s All Kicking Off… the Bayer Leverkusen boss won’t make an emotional decision amid links to Bayern Munich and Liverpool

Xabi Alonso will not decide his next move in management on emotion, insists Mail Sport’s Dominic King, with the Bayer Leverkusen boss considered one of the leading candidates for the Bayern Munich and Liverpool jobs this summer.

Alonso has been strongly tipped to take over as Liverpool manager this summer after Jurgen Klopp sensationally announced he would be stepping down at the end of the season.

The 42-year-old, who played at Anfield between 2004 and 2009, has been shortlisted by the Reds.

Bayern Munich’s decision to part ways with manager Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season could put Alonso at the center of a tug-of-war between the German giants and Liverpool.

Mail Sport understands Alonso is Bayern’s number 1 choice to succeed Tuchel, with reports from Germany claiming the Spaniard is in favor of a move to Munich.

The Bayer Leverkusen boss is Bayern Munich’s first choice to replace Thomas Tuchel

Dominic King says Alonso will clear emotions as he decides his next move in management

Speaking on Mail Sport It’s all Kicking Off podcastKing stressed that Alonso will carefully consider the next steps in his managerial career.

King said Alonso will not comment on the emotional bond he has with Liverpool after playing a key role in their Champions League victory in 2005.

‘I thought it was interesting that Jurgen Klopp spoke about him last week and called him one of the brightest young managers in Europe.

‘He made a pithy comment that he and Guardiola are now dinosaurs because Alonso is only 42.

‘Sometimes I think the answer is so obvious that it stares you in the eyes of Alonso.

“I’ve told you a few times that he’s a smart guy, he thinks about things and will do what’s best for him. There will be no emotion whatsoever in the decision he makes.

‘It won’t just be: ‘I won the Champions League with Liverpool, I’m going there’.

“He will be very, very clear in what he does.”

Alonso will not take his Champions League victory with Liverpool into account when making a decision

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp called Alonso one of the brightest young managers in Europe

Alonso has attracted the attention of both Bayern Munich and Liverpool due to his impressive work at Bayer Leverkusen.

His side have an eight-point lead over champions Bayern and recently defeated them 3-0, a result that proved to be one of the final nails in Tuchel’s coffin.

Alonso has a contract with Leverkusen until June 2026 and was appointed in October 2026. In his first season he guided them from the drop zone to sixth place.

This season, Leverkusen remains undefeated in the German top flight.

His team also remains in contention in the Europa League and the DFB-Pokal.