Xabi Alonso speaks out on succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, leaving the door open after ‘very surprising’ news of manager’s shock resignation
Xabi Alonso has responded to the link with a return to Liverpool to replace Jurgen Klopp, after the Reds boss announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.
Klopp’s shock announcement on Friday morning caught everyone off guard, including Alonso, but attention quickly turned to who could replace him.
Alonso, who played for Liverpool from 2004 to 2009, has emerged as the early favorite for the job after leading Bayer Leverkusen to the top of the Bundesliga this season.
He has insisted he is ‘very happy’ at his current club but refused to rule out a future move to Anfield.
‘I have enormous respect and admiration for Jurgen. I was very surprised. My focus is on Leverkusen,” Alonso said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Leverkusen’s Bundesliga clash with Borussia Mönchengladbach tomorrow.
Jurgen Klopp has announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season
Xabi Alonso is the favorite to replace him but has said he is ‘very happy’ at Bayer Leverkusen
Alonso played for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009 and could be in line to return to Anfield
‘At the moment I am very happy here. I still have a lot of motivation and I am very happy with the club and the team.
‘I don’t know what will happen in the future. It doesn’t really matter to me at this point.’
Alonso is only in his first full season in senior management but has already made a huge impact at Leverkusen.
After taking over the club when they were in second place in October 2022, Alonso guided them to a sixth-place finish, and the team has become one of Europe’s standout clubs this season.
Leverkusen is unbeaten in 27 games in all competitions (winning 24) and has built a four-point lead over Bayern Munich at the top of the table.
Alonso is now involved in his first title race as a manager, which could stand him in good stead when he takes over from Klopp, as Liverpool fans expect their side to challenge for major honors every season.
Liverpool are also well placed to give Klopp the perfect send-off this season as they sit top of the Premier League, five points ahead of Manchester City, despite having played a game more than their rivals.