Alonso quickly chose his new team after being linked with three Premier League clubs, revealing three factors behind his decision.
On 15 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Spanish media outlet Fichajes reported the latest news about Xabi Alonso, the former Real Madrid coach, who was recently dismissed from his position at the Spanish La Liga giant on Monday.
This has put Xabi Alonso under scrutiny regarding where he will coach next, after making a name for himself at Bayer Leverkusen by turning a team that narrowly escaped relegation in the 2022-23 season into undefeated Bundesliga champions in 2023-24, also winning the DFB-Pokal and reaching the Europa League final.
Initially, 44-year-old Xabi Alonso was linked with several top Premier League clubs including Manchester United, who are seeking a permanent manager after this season, Manchester City, looking for a successor if Pep Guardiola leaves, and Liverpool, his former club as a player.
Sources recently revealed that Xabi Alonso is most interested in Liverpool and wants to manage the Reds in the future, as the Manchester City manager position remains uncertain with Pep Guardiola under contract until 2027, while Manchester United is seen as having a chaotic project.
Meanwhile, Liverpool consider Xabi Alonso a leading candidate to replace Jürgen Klopp. Although the Dutch coach has led the team to an 11-match unbeaten streak, his style and approach have not yet fully impressed the Liverpool fans.
Xabi Alonso himself believes Liverpool is the right destination due to three main reasons. According to sources, "Beyond emotional factors, Liverpool's sporting project perfectly aligns with his philosophy."
"Liverpool has a core of young, energetic players with high technical skills, many resembling those Alonso developed at Leverkusen. These players can control midfield, press intensely, and adapt to a flexible system."
"Moreover, Liverpool has a clear structure, defined sporting direction, and an environment that protects the manager when results fall short of expectations. This stability is key for a coach who believes in a medium-term process."