Xabi Alonso reveals decision to turn down Liverpool in Bayer Leverkusen press conference

Southgate instead?

Surely not...

But former Reds defender Glen Johson says it can't be ignored.

“If he’s available in the summer, then you’ve got to look at all the options," said Johnson to Betfred. "He’s done a brilliant job with England, so there’s no reason why he can’t be successful with a club like Liverpool as he’d be dealing with a similar standard of players.

"You’d need to have the chat because you can’t just dismiss him if he’s available."

That's all

Well, at least from the English section!

A full transcription will be with you soon.

What might come?

It's my contract, my desire, so we are not starting to speculate about the future. Until now we have speculated enough.

I enjoy wherever I am and right now I am at Leverkusen and I am happy. I think that the ambition from the club I match with them and I want to be with them so that's my decision and my wish for the future.

Why did this decision take so long?

There was a long time but there was a lot of jobs to do so sometimes I had to think, about the next game, about not disturbing the atmosphere of the team and from myself as well.

I needed some fresh time to properly reflect and that's why I had the deadline of the first week of the international break, with myself and my family for sure and the following week with the club to share the overview of the situation.

It took the necessary time and no more than expected. Mainly I had to feel the decision that it's in a natural way and that's why I have taken it.

Alonso won't talk about other clubs

It wouldn't be correct for me to talk about other clubs when they are in this situation.

For sure they are clubs that I have a strong link, I play there so I respect them but it's not correct for me to talk about them right now and it's more about the conviction that I am in the right place in Bayer Leverkusen.

I want to keep growing with the club, growing with the players, learning from them and at this stage of my young career as a coach it's too earlier to talk about those things.

I don't have that much to talk, just one year.

We want to be another level

It's almost done that we will play Champions League next year and we want to be contending in Bundesliga, in Polka, in every competition.

We took the right decisions next summer but before that we have enough on the plate.

Alonso continues

To develop, to improve, and for sure this year has been great. We wil see how far we will reach.

We have the commitment from the club and from the direction that we want to keep being ambitious and competing for important things.

To improve, to keep the core of the team. For sure talking about next season when we are in the middle of such an exciting one it's not easy but you have to think ahead as well about the preparation but we have the commitment from everyone.

Speculation is part of the business

So I have not been really stressed with that and I think that myself and all of the players have dealt really well with that and it was important that I was not feeling guilty that the speculation was effecting the team.

The mentality that the guys has shown has been really good.

Now everything is clear and we have just this two months to fight for something which would be great for the club.

I told the players this morning

In the teamtalk, for sure we've done like a normal day, we have been preparing.

After now, this press conference, my focus will be on Hoffenheim.

Before in the team talk we have been as always preparing for the game of Hoffenheim but I have shared with them my decision because you guys did a lot of speculations.

Not even just the last months but in October you started. [Told it was May by a reporter] May? Last May?

It has been a long season, I forgot already.

Relief?

No. I have thought about the decision because important decisions you need to reflect well and to know. Once I had taken the decision it was important to share with everyone.

I need to give them back the respect that they have shown me, I am grateful as well to these people that they believe.

The fans, my staff, the players. So many people that come with me and that's important that I give them back what they have given me, that's a sign of respect, of appreciation.

So far I feel that way.

And more

We need to give our best and for that it was good that the last week was my deadline and I had to make that decision.

From now on all the cards are on the table and we go full gas for the big calls we have ahead of us.

Lets see how far we can reach but our wish is clear.

Alonso continues

It is a process, the development of the team is being parallel as my development as a manager. This is my first complete season as a manager so I think that I still have a lot of things to prove to myself, to experience.

Right now I have a situation at the club where I feel really stable, really happy with the team and the club. It comes together that we can work together in many aspects.

I have shared that with the management and the players as well. We are in a situation that we have to enjoy. There is still two months to go, it's going to be really intense but really demanding but enjoyable hopefully.

Hinting at the future?

Putting all the things together, I have taken this important decision and I am convinced it is the right one, I am happy.

I am still young so time will tell but right now I feel like that.

Alonso: My job is not over here

I want to help them, I want to help the team, I want to help the young players to develop and if I am part of a process I am happy with that.

And some more

I feel really respected by all the departments.

The fans that show great support during this year and last year in difficult moments, I feel that.

We have all the reasons to believe and to dream that we can have a really great season, we are really pushing for that.

A great staff that helps me day by day to work better, to prepare and improve the team.

The players. For sure the players, they give me so many reasons to keep believing in the team for the commitment, for the desire, fort he hunger to have a great season.

More from Alonso

For sure all the decisions needed to be analysed well and I tried to take the right ones. I tried to take them that I feel they come in a natural way and at this moment I felt that this is the best place for me to be, for me to develop as a coach.

I am a young coach but I have to feel it and right now I feel that this is the right place and I have to thank the management, the club that has been really supportive.

Alonso confirms stance

We have been here many times. It has been a season with much speculation regarding my future and until now we have had so many games.

We have been pretty busy, pretty focused, and I wanted to use that time of the international break to reflect a little bit better and to make a decision.

Last week I had a very good meeting when I informed them of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen.

Here he is

Alonso has arrived

Nearly time

Lets see what Alonso has to say

What happens if Amorim joins?

Our games experts have dipped into the world of simulations to see just how some of these prospective candidates might do at Anfield.

For Amorim it's pretty good. Using Football Manager 2024 to predict the future, the Reds win two trophies - the Champions League and Carabao Cup - but finish fourth in the league.

Surprisingly, Alexis Mac Allister is sold, but Trent Alexander-Arnold does get a consistent shift in midfield as a new formation is tried.

Read the full season outcome, here.

We can laugh at Keys

There is, at least, this.

Richard Keys was bullish in his stance that Alonso had chosen Liverpool.

"My critics said ‘No. what’s he done? It’s too soon'," he wrote in his blog. "Really? Well 3 months on it’s not too soon for Liverpool to have got him to agree to become their next manager.

"As I always say when I share news like this – these big deals can always go wrong. There’s a lot to go wrong when they’re blue riband, whether it’s a player or coach/manager involved, but my information is that Alonso has decided on Liverpool.

“If I’m a Liverpool fan – that excites me. What United have got to do is better that appointment. Would Southgate turning up at OT (Old Trafford) do that?”

What has Amorim said

Simply put, Amorim hasn't offered that many hints that he is pushing to leave.

“The main factor [he doesn't want to leave] is because I really like being here," he said last year. "And then, I’ve seen many coaches move to other leagues and not be happier,” he said.

"It sounds a bit cliche, but I think it’s an important factor in the decision [to be happy]. And I’m not looking for anything. And by the way, I want to value what I have and not what is said. And it’s been said so many times…

"I’ve already said it, I’ve had contacts with other clubs, Sporting even knows, but I always wanted to stay because I like being at Sporting. If I ever have to leave here, either because I was pushed out with white handkerchiefs, or because I went to another club, it will happen.

"But being here doing my part, I won't be opening the door and leaving it ajar, because I think Sporting deserves another respect. If I have to go, I will. If I ever want to go, I’ll tell the president and Hugo Viana, and I’ll go. Right now, I want to stay here, I want to fulfil my contract and I have very clear objectives for what I want to do.

"And the club that wants me like Sporting wanted me, has to pay the clause. Because my way of doing things requires it. I can’t invite myself to other clubs, because my way of leading doesn’t work that way.

"I’m very happy where I am, I want to stay here and I know very well that there are times when people say I’m going to other clubs and others when people say I have to leave because I’m not fulfilling my goals: and I’m not in the championship right now.

"But going back to the beginning, I’ve seen many coaches change from one moment to the next and then they are not happy. And Sporting is where I want to be. If I ever stop wanting it, I will change my mind and let people know."

Who else is there?

As has been rumoured all along, Liverpool's shortlist is longer than just Alonso.

Amorim of Sporting CP and Brighton's De Zerbi are the other hot prospects.

Bayern will also now be looking at what we can imagine will be a similar pool of names come the summer as well with Tuchel set to leave.

Barcelona are also in the hunt for a new head coach whilst there's a chance that Chelsea, Newcastle, and Manchester United might all join them.

Other exciting names out there are Thiago Motta (Bologna), Arne Slot (Feyenoord), Framcesco Farioli (Nice), and Julian Nagelsmann (Germany).

How did we get here?

Well, Alonso has been the clear favourite to replace Klopp from day one.

Part of Liverpool's reasoning behind making the announcement so early was to allow time for a comprehensive search and public push for a replacement to be carried out.

Things took a twist when Bayern and Tuchel decided to part ways come the end of the season as well.

Bayer are top though, unbeaten, on their way to a remarkable Bundesliga win and with Champions League football coming their way. Alonso has a lengthy career ahead of him and has ultimately, it seems, decided that he wants to remain.

Welcome

Another day, another Xabi Alonso press conference, but this one feels a bit different.

The Bayer head coach is expected to commit himself to the cause in Germany for the upcoming season with both Liverpool and Bayern Munich set to be disappointed.

Follow along with everything that the Spaniard has to say, here!