Alonso has been courted by Liverpool and Bayern Munich, who are both looking for a new manager this summer, with Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel moving on. But the former midfielder has decided to stay put and continue his work with Leverkusen, who are sitting top of the Bundesliga.
Leverkusen are 10 points above Bayern and on track to win a first ever Bundesliga title and Alonso said on Friday that he thinks the club remains “the right place for me to develop as a coach”. But former Liverpool winger Cole thinks he should have made the most of his recent success by succeeding Klopp.
“I think it’s a terrible decision,” he said on TNT Sports. “He is the hottest property in world football, in management right now. A manager’s stock goes up and down so quickly. I think he should have made the move this summer because in a year’s time it could be completely different.
“Keeping this team together is going to be tough enough because they’ve got some fantastic players and all the big giants in Europe are going to be looking at them.”
Fellow TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves had a different take, saying: “Probably a bit of a surprise. Most managers when they’re stock is high tend to strike but Xabi, relatively young as a manager, wants to stay where he’s comfortable.
“Bayern wanted him, Real, Liverpool… so I’m impressed actually and I think he’s made the right call. Stay another year and see what happens in the summer. If he wins the Bundesliga and potentially a European trophy, and if he keeps that team together it could be something very special.”
Alonso spent three years as the coach of Real Sociedad’s B team before joining Leverkusen in October 2022. The German side were 17th in the Bundesliga when he took over, but Alonso has turned things around in style, winning 50 of his 75 matches and losing just 10 altogether.
The 42-year-old has got his side playing an attractive style of football, which has proven effective and attracted interest from other clubs. Having played with distinction for Liverpool, Bayern and Real Madrid, Alonso has links to three of Europe’s top clubs, but he has snubbed their interest for now.
He explained his decision on Friday: “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 has been supportive and I feel respected by all departments.”
