Xabi Alonso makes major managerial decision after Liverpool 'gentleman's agreement'

Xabi Alonso makes major managerial decision after Liverpool 'gentleman's agreement'

Xabi Alonso will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season amid links with the Real Madrid position

Xabi Alonso will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, a year after links with Liverpool. (Image: Photo by Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images )

Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed that Liverpool icon Xabi Alonso will leave the club at the end of the season. After two-and-a-half years, Bundesliga and DFB Pokal triumphs as well as a run to the Europa League final, he will depart the German club.

Alonso was heavily linked with the vacant managerial position at Anfield last summer as the Spanish midfielder emerged as an overwhelming favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. However, he was forced to speak out and dismiss the reports as they pushed to end Bayern Munich's dominance at the top of German football.

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Now with the campaign drawing to a close and Leverkusen already solidified second place in the table, it has been confirmed that he will leave Leverkusen amid links with Real Madrid.

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"Bayer 04 Leverkusen and head coach Xabi Alonso part company after more than two and a half years together," a statement read on the Leverkusen website.

"The champions of Germany, DFB Pokal and Supercup winners of 2024 have met the wish of the Spaniard to terminate his contract originally due to run to the summer of 2026 after the end of this season.

"Bayer 04 will announce the successor as head coach at the appropriate time."

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Club CEO Fernando Carro said: "Bayer 04 have achieved lasting recognition in the football world through the targeted success under Xabi Alonso.

"Bringing the Meisterschale to Leverkusen unbeaten plus winning the DFB Pokal, reaching the Europa League final and winning the Supercup makes us very proud."

It was Carro who confirmed last month that Alonso has a 'gentleman's agreement' to join one of his former clubs.

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Los Blancos are facing change with Carlo Ancelotti's future unclear at the Bernabeu but the agreement means that he could leave Leverkusen to join Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Sociedad or Madrid.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Liverpool in the summer and the most likely destination being the Spanish capital, it could spark a Liverpool connection should both Alonso and the England international unite in La Liga.

Explaining his decision, Alonso said: "I owe great thanks to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, my players and staff, all the employees of the club and last but not least the fantastic fans.

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"Our success was the result of an outstanding team performance. This club, who showed exceptional trust in me, very much deserved to win the German league title for the first time.

"My thanks and admiration go to everybody who helped to make this triumph happen including the DFB Pokal win in Berlin.

"Bayer 04 are ready for the future. The positive path will continue and I will be excited to follow it."

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