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Xabi Alonso: Uli Hoeness says Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid battling to appoint Bayer Leverkusen boss

Ben Southby

Published 21/03/2024 at 17:06 GMT

Xabi Alonso is being chased by a number of Europe's elite clubs and according to Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness, the German side are facing stiff competition from Liverpool and Real Madrid for his signature. The 42-year-old has had a remarkable season with Bayer Leverkusen and is closing in on delivering the club their first-ever Bundesliga title.

FREIBURG IM BREISGAU, GERMANY - MARCH 17: Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Bayer Leverkusen, celebrates following the team's victory in the Bundesliga match between Sport-Club Freiburg and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Europa-Park Stadion on March 17, 2024 in Freiburg

Image credit: Eurosport

Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness says the German club are competing with Liverpool and Real Madrid for Xabi Alonso’s signature.
The Spaniard’s Bayer Leverkusen side are eight points clear of Bayern in the Bundesliga table and are set to disrupt the German champions' 11-year dominance of the league.
Alonso’s side also remain unbeaten in all competitions this campaign and are still competing strongly on all fronts, including in the UEFA Europa League and DFB-Pokal.
As the 42-year-old closes in on delivering Leverkusen their first Bundesliga title, three of his former clubs are plotting a move for the sought-after manager ahead of the 2024/25 season.
"Clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, Leverkusen and FC Bayern are working on it," Hoeness told Ran Sport.
"He's proven that he can be a coach for the big time. There are hardly any coaches who come into question who are currently free, who don't have a job or who are on sabbatical.
"It's not so easy to tell them that FC Bayern is the measure of all things."
Earlier in the week, Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro said: "Xabi Alonso has a contract until 2026 and there is no reason to doubt that he will stay here.
"In football you never know what will happen but I have a lot of trust, we have a good relationship.”
Both Bayern and Liverpool will be without a manager in the summer, with Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Kopp both leaving their respective clubs at the end of the season.
At Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti extended his deal with the club until 2026, while Alonso’s current deal at Leverkusen runs out at the same time.
Liverpool are currently second in the table behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference as they chase their second Premier League title.
Bayern are still chasing Leverkusen in Germany, while over in La Liga, Madrid also lead Barcelona by eight points.
All three clubs remain in European competition with Bayern and Madrid competing in the UEFA Champions League, while Leverkusen may come up against Liverpool in the Europa League final.
Alonso represented Liverpool for five years between 2004 and 2009, before moving to Madrid for another five-year spell.
In 2014, the former central midfielder joined Bayern where he retired three years later.
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