Xabi Alonso says he will still be in charge of Bayer Leverkusen next season amid Tottenham rumours
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Published 17/05/2023 at 14:44 GMT
Tottenham are still seeking a long-term replacement for Antonio Conte but, after Vincent Kompany and Julian Nagelsmann made clear their lack of intent to join the club, Xabi Alonso has become the latest to quash rumours linking him with a move to the Premier League club. Alonso says he will still be manager of Bayer Leverkusen next season.
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Xabi Alonso has ruled himself out of the Tottenham manager’s job by committing his future to Bayer Leverkusen.
The former Liverpool midfielder is preparing to take his team into the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Roma.
The German side are 1-0 down in the tie after Edoardo Bove struck a winner in the first leg for Jose Mourinho’s team.
As well as talking about how he plans to change the tide and mastermind a route to the Budapest final for his team, Alonso has also addressed speculation linking him with a move to London in his pre-match news conference.
Alonso said: “I'm happy here with the team and the club. I'm not worried about my future.”
To follow this, the Spaniard was asked by reporters if he will still be coach until at least 2024 and he replied: “That’s correct.”
After retiring as a player in 2017, Alonso moved into a coaching role with Real Sociedad B before being appointed head coach of Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022.
Following a tough start to the season, Alonso helped the club move up the Bundesliga table. They are now in contention to qualify for Europe through the league, while also hoping to finish the campaign with Europa League success.
First though, Alonso must outsmart Mourinho to turn their semi-final around.
For Tottenham, if Alonso is to be taken at his word, it is a third name they can scratch from their shortlist of managers to replace Antonio Conte after Vincent Kompany and Julian Nagelsmann distanced themselves from the role too.
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