Tuchel goes and Alonso comes…”If I leave, it will be Munich, not Liverpool”
Bayern Munich are reportedly the most likely destination for Xabi Alonso, who is being eyed by big clubs in the summer transfer window. There is also interest in whether Kim Min-Jae, who has seen his role diminish under Thomas Tuchel, will be reinstated under Alonso.
“If Alonso leaves Bayer Leverkusen this summer, he will join Bayern Munich, not Liverpool,” Sky Sports Germany reported on Wednesday (Aug. 23).
The Bavarians, who have mutually agreed to terminate Tuchel’s contract at the end of the season, are in the market for a new manager and Alonso has been identified as an early favorite.
“Alonso has proven for a long time that he can be the (Bayern Munich) coach,” said Bayern Munich honorary chairman Uli Hoeness, “and now there is no suitable coach available in free agency. The situation is becoming much more difficult because clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, Leverkusen and us are trying to sign him.”
As a player, Alonso was a midfielder who anchored his team’s midfield with his excellent football sense and accurate long passing. After joining Liverpool in 2004, Alonso wore the colors of Real Madrid from 2009 onward. In 2014, he joined Bayern Munich and three years later, he announced his retirement from football.
Alonso’s coaching career began in earnest when he took on the role of youth coach at Real Sociedad. He then worked his way up through the Real Sociedad B team before joining Leverkusen midway through last season. Leverkusen was Alonso’s first experience in the top flight.
Alonso has transformed Leverkusen into a completely different team this season. His tactical and strategic brilliance has transformed Leverkusen into a powerhouse.
Alonso’s Leverkusen have been one of the best teams in Europe’s top five leagues this season. With 22 wins and four draws in 26 games in the German Bundesliga, they sit in first place with 70 points, 10 points clear of Bayern Munich. They could dethrone Bayern Munich and change the winner of the German Bundesliga for the first time in 12 years.
In addition to the Bundesliga title, they’re also in the quarterfinals of the German Pokal Cup and the quarterfinals of the Europa League, making it a possible triple crown. Bayern Munich is also unbeaten in 38 matches in all competitions this season.
Alonso has become one of Europe’s leading coaches with his team’s winning ways. In addition to his tactical ability to press hard and attack all over the pitch, Alonso is also highly regarded for his leadership in instilling a ‘winning mentality’ in the Leverkusen squad.
He has been linked with a number of big clubs, including Bayern Munich. Liverpool, who are parting ways with Jürgen Klopp, who has announced his decision to step down at the end of the season, are among their top priorities, while Real Madrid, who renewed their contract with Carlo Ancelotti until 2026 in December, are also said to be interested in Alonso.
However, Sky Sports Germany is confident that Alonso will be heading to Bayern Munich. “As has been confirmed in the last few days, Bayern Munich are confident of signing Alonso,” said Florian Plettenberger, the reporter who wrote the report.
Last month, the British publication Mirror reported that the 사설토토 Bavarians are planning to offer Alonso a hefty sum of money if he accepts their offer. “Munich are preparing to offer Alonso a contract worth €23 million a year,” the Mirror reported. That’s more than double the €11 million ($15.8 billion) Tuchel currently earns as coach, and would be the highest salary for a coach in German Bundesliga history.”
Alonso earns €6 million a year at Leverkusen. If the €23 million deal with Munich is finalized, Alonso will become the highest-paid coach in the world after Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone. Simeone earns €34 million a year.
Alonso played for both Munich and Liverpool as a player. It was in a Liverpool shirt that he reached his peak as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. He played for the Reds from 2004 to 2009, partnering Steven Gerrard in one of the most dominant midfields in the world.
He then moved to Real Madrid before joining Munich in 2014. He played for the Bavarians until his retirement in 2017.
Alonso has been tight-lipped about his future. His contract with Leverkusen runs until 2026, but he has a release clause this summer, so a move wouldn”t be difficult.
