Xabi Alonso Reveals Why He Turned Down a Job at Liverpool
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has disclosed the reasons behind his decision to decline a coaching role at his old club. Alonso, who spent five successful seasons at Anfield from 2004 to 2009, had been linked to a return to Liverpool as assistant manager to Jürgen Klopp. However, the Spaniard opted to pursue other ventures. In an interview with The Independent, Alonso explained that he turned down the offer because he felt the timing was not right. “I had a long conversation with Jürgen Klopp and I was very grateful for the offer,” Alonso said. “But I felt that it wasn’t the right time for me to come back to Liverpool. I’m still very young as a coach and I want to continue learning.” Alonso also expressed his desire to manage a club in his native Spain in the future. “I love Liverpool and I always will, but I think that one day I would like to manage a team in Spain,” Alonso said. “It’s my country and it’s where I feel most comfortable.” Despite Alonso’s decision to turn down the offer, he remains a highly respected figure at Liverpool. He was a key member of the team that won the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006. Klopp also praised Alonso’s qualities as a coach. “Xabi is a fantastic person and a very good coach,” Klopp said. “I understand his decision and I wish him all the best in the future.” Alonso is currently the manager of Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. He has also coached Real Madrid Castilla and the Spain under-19 team.
Xabi Alonso Reveals Why He Turned Down a Job at Liverpool
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has revealed that he rejected an offer to become the club’s assistant manager in 2019. Alonso, who played for Liverpool from 2004 to 2009, was approached by then-manager Jurgen Klopp about a possible return to the club. However, the Spaniard ultimately decided against it. “I spoke to Jurgen and he asked me if I would be interested in being his assistant at Liverpool,” Alonso told The Athletic. “I was very flattered by the offer, but I had to decline. I had just started my coaching career with Real Madrid’s youth team, and I wanted to focus on that.” Alonso also revealed that he had other job offers at the time, but he was not ready to leave Real Madrid. “I was very happy at Real Madrid,” he said. “I was working with some of the best players in the world, and I was learning a lot from Zinedine Zidane. I didn’t want to leave that environment.” Alonso went on to win the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid in 2022. He is now the manager of Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.