In the course of the last year, Xabi Alonso has quickly become one of the hottest prospects in football management.
As his Bayer Leverkusen side continue to rise up the Bundesliga table – where they sit eight points clear at the top – clubs across Europe have continued to take note.
Most notably, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are two of the powerhouses keeping a close eye on their former star, as they both prepare for managerial changes.
Jurgen Klopp is leaving Merseyside out of choice in the summer, while Thomas Tuchel has mutually agreed to leave after their dismal run of form.
So here, Mail Sport takes a look at the two options that will likely be presented to the Spaniard in the summer.
There’s no doubt that if Xabi Alonso opted to return to Anfield, he would be welcomed with open arms by Reds supporters.
After five successful years in Merseyside as a player, the Spaniard is fondly remembered at Liverpool for his formidable partnership with Steven Gerrard in the heart of their midfield.
However, things are different now and the Spaniard has the prospect of returning in a managerial position – given Jurgen Klopp’s decision to leave in the summer.
The German boss sent shockwaves through the sport last month, after announcing that he was ‘running out of energy’ to do the job in Merseyside.
Naturally, fans started looking for potential replacements and Leverkusen boss Alonso shot to the top of the list, given the German side’s impressive form.
A move to Anfield is definitely possible and one that may intrigue the Spaniard, given the possibility of bringing in a new era at the club.
With Klopp leaving, the Merseyside giants are expected to experience a period of transition – with some of their star players also potentially leaving.
Mohamed Salah’s future has been a fierce topic of debate in recent months, while Virgil van Dijk remained coy when quizzed on his future not long ago.
However, even with two of their stars potentially departing, it’s hard to deny that Liverpool have a superior squad to Bayern and one that is ready to challenge for titles immediately.
Alonso’s high-pressing and full-back focused system would also fit Liverpool’s squad well, given the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson in their ranks.
Furthermore, with Liverpool missing out on big-money deals such as Jude Bellingham, Moises Caicedo and (likely) Kylian Mbappe in recent years, there could be a fair amount in the bank for the Spaniard to work with in the summer.
Alonso may also feel that, should he clinch the league title with Bayer Leverkusen, that his managerial changes lie away from the Bundesliga.
If Leverkusen end the season as champions, it makes little sense for the 42-year-old to move to their league rivals Bayern – who have struggled in 2023-24.
The Premier League is often labelled as the most competitive league in the world and one that a player (or manager) must move to in order to prove their credentials.
He’ll also be familiar with his potential surroundings in Merseyside and so a move to England wouldn’t be too life-changing.
Bayern, on the other hand, are in a vastly different situation to Liverpool.
The Bavarian giants, though they won the Bundesliga title last season, find themselves in a spot of bother as Alonso’s Leverkusen lead the league table.
The Spaniard has threatened to derail Bayern’s 11-year run as champions in Germany and, in turn, have forced Bayern to act.
The club confirmed that Thomas Tuchel will leave the club at the end of the season – which is likely to end without a trophy – after a disastrous 2023-24 campaign.
And, given the impressive work that Alonso has done at Leverkusen, Bayern chiefs have immediately turned their attention to the Spaniard.
Alonso already knows the league like the back of his hand, having coached Leverkusen since October 2022, and so could find a seamless transition to Bayern.
However, while a move across Germany would prove easy for Alonso, the Spaniard would be signing him up for a complete overhaul at Bayern.
Players such as Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer – who have been the spine of the team for over a decade – will likely leave in summer as part of a new era at the club.
While young talents such as Jamal Musiala and Mathys Tel will look to offer Alonso an exciting future in charge, it’s no doubt he’ll be taking note of the old guard who are leaving.
However, it’ll also be apparent Alonso that, should he leave Leverkusen to join Bayern, the Bavarian giants would have little opposition in the league.
Traditional title rivals Borussia Dortmund have experienced a drastic fall-off from last season and currently sit fourth – four points behind VfB Stuttgart.
Thus, if also departed Leverkusen, he’d likely give himself and Bayern a clean run at the Bundesliga title in 2024-25.
With all of this considered, Alonso will likely take his time before jumping to any decisions, knowing full well that two of Europe’s biggest powerhouses would gladly welcome him through their doors in the summer.
