feck them
Xabi Alonso: Bayer Leverkusen manager
- Thread starter horsechoker
- Start date
To be fair Klopp was always a knobhead. Him being at Liverpool only elevated that to another level but it was always there.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he wants to join Madrid, but I don’t think that backs up the idea he’d reject United for Liverpool
You seem to have got your back up that anyone would reject United.
With Alonso there are clear ties to past clubs and one of them being our greatest rivals.
I'm not saying he wouldn't if we offered him exactly what he wanted but it's more than likely.
The reported clause (even if verbal) was for Bayern Liverpool and Real. It was there for a reason.
But that agreement allegedly is for Real, Bayern and Liverpool. So there clearly is a preference for Liverpool. He might still not reject United, but that he prefers Liverpool is obvious from this.
If Klopp, Guardiola rejected United I would understand it and it would be expected.
I don't buy that Alonso would reject United because he played for Liverpool. Seems quite reasonable tbh but nobody is having it
If you believe that, fine. I don’t
It's widely reported but OK.
That that there is a gentlemen's agreement in place for his ex clubs is as close to a fact as it gets. We do these type of assurances quite a lot, usually with players. They know we'll keep our part of the promise and thus don't insist on release clauses
Now, I don't know if that means he would never join United (no idea to be honest) but it means we will not feel obliged to let him go before his contract ends if a club other than Madrid, Liverpool or Bayern comes calling since only those were included before.Klopp was already disliked by many during his time at Mainz and Dortmund. Especially because of his behaviour on the pitch towards the officials. Alonso is loved by everyone. There is no comparison in this regard.
I’d imagine a lot of managers/players etc have verbal agreements that they can go to a bigger club or join a club under a specific role if it’s offered.That that there is a gentlemen's agreement in place for his ex clubs is as close to a fact as it gets. We do these type of assurances quite a lot, usually with players. They know we'll keep our part of the promise and thus don't insist on release clauses
But I still don’t buy into this narrative that United would have no chance because he played for Liverpool and would be loyal to them. Hes a manager with his own career to think about. I don’t think he’d certainly join United, I just don’t think he’d reject with his loyalty to Liverpool being the reason. If he rejected United, I suspect it would be because he wants to stay at Leverkusen and won’t move to any club, or because he wants to manage in a different league
Not any bigger club. The three clubs he used to play for. It goes without saying that he is still invested in said clubs as a result.
If I knew your arguments against what I was saying were due to reports of some clause, then I could have wrapped it up much quicker.
As I said, if you believe that then you’re welcome to believe that.
I believe if United approached him for the managers job, his decision wouldn’t be lead by Liverpool
That’s that
This whole discussion misses what Leverkusen thinks about it. What such an agreement between them and Alonso means is more or less just "ok, we won't stop you from moving to one of your ex clubs". Any other clubs like would have to pay a (much higher) fee to get him from Leverkusen. So I also don't think it would be impossible for United to get Alonso, but I am quite sure that United would have to pay much more for him than Liverpool would have to (assuming that transfer happens while he is still under contract in Leverkusen).
It still baffles me that any Man United fan would want a Liverpool legend even near the club, much less as manager.
It's not just due to the report, the clause just cements an obvious view that he wouldn't consider United as a heavily affiliated ex Liverpool player.
Also the existence of such a clause isn't just generic reports. The CEO gave a nod of existence to such a verbal agreement, so it's a bit weird to outright ignore it. But you do you.
mate, we are absolute dogshit at the moment. If Klopp was keen to be our manager, I would take him in a heartbeat.
What about Steven Gerrard, if he had Alonso's track record?
But we're not talking about him are we. He's personified the rivalry for a good few years. Alonso? Meh.
Plus we've done very well under a Liverpool legend before. But somehow, the idea that Alonso has Liverpool cooties is a big problem for some.
Played for big clubs and won almost everything, now seems to be elite manager in the making. And good-looking. Man's got it all.
Also it is really amazing how he won Bundesliga year and a half after taking over. After Bayern won it for 11 consecutive seasons. Hopefully he joins Bayern or Real eventually and not Liverpool.
Also it is really amazing how he won Bundesliga year and a half after taking over. After Bayern won it for 11 consecutive seasons. Hopefully he joins Bayern or Real eventually and not Liverpool.
Is Xabi a Liverpool legend though?
His playing career was pretty evenly spread out over Real Sociedad (4 years), Liverpool (5 years), Real Madrid (5 years) and Bayern (3 years). While he was very highly rated at all his clubs, did he actually do enough to be considered a legend at any of them?
The next Erik ten hag
Because a good manager is a good manager. You’d be surprised what clubs Matt Busby played for if you did a bit of research.
Also how sweet would it be if we became a dominant force ahead of Liverpool with one of their ex players as manager.
I would agree. I don't see why other clubs wouldn't go in for him, I doubt he's got any huge allegiance to any club maybe bar Real, and even then he's not from Madrid and grew up in Barca before going back to Donostia where he spent to bulk of his life/career and even started coaching.
If he's learned anything from Pep etc. it's to be uber selective about your managerial jobs. You look at the PL and a sensible manager would wait to see how City are punished because, if they are not actually punished properly, there's next to no point for a new manager who can choose other top clubs going to Pool in my opinion because the seat you want is City.
Now I fear for his hair
To be fair, many people who know him have explained that he is very loyal to the clubs he's been at and identifies with them strongly. Eberl (new Bayern DoF who tried bringing Alonso to Gladbach three years ago) and Uli Hoeneß has brought that quality up as one of the reasons it will be pretty difficult to lure him away from Leverkusen. That he specifically included his three ex clubs in the gentlemen's agreement is further evidence of that, IMO.
And yes, he's choosing his jobs very carefully to say the least. But that's another reason why I deem it unlikely that he signs for a rival of his ex clubs. It would cause a lot of illwill in the media and among rival fans and my guess is that he will avoid such distractions if possible.
Interesting take... Would this apply for United too?
He was quoted in The Times Online in 2011 as saying, "I am still a Liverpool fan and will be forever, absolutely" and that he will raise his Liverpool-born son as a Red supporter.
This is a pipe dream lads... Best we can hope for is he goes to Real or Bayern.
This is a pipe dream lads... Best we can hope for is he goes to Real or Bayern.
I'm not putting much stock in the Bayern charm offensive, he's their No1 target and they will slather him with platitudes. Even if he does go elsewhere they'll keep their eyes on him if he continues to do well.
Matt Busby.
Because he already told Bayern he is staying and he'd be walking into a squad of utter shite. He would have to rebuild us with INEOS and being so young in his managerial career, he probably doesn't want to deal with that. Also with Real position being vacant at the end of next session, it's a more desirable job imo. Now if they gave him a blank check, maybe he would but just no way he's coming at this point.
Is Alonso even that much of a Liverpool legend? Depends where you set that bar I guess, but 210 appearances and two major trophies doesn't sound like all that much. It's not Gerrard or Carragher level, that's for sure.
If he's the best up and coming manager in the world, then it doesn't surprise me in the slightest.
Definitely. Still, I don't think Xabi will want to start his first high profile job accompanied by negative press and public illwill. If he were to move to Bayern directly, it would cause a lot of frustration. Not only among Leverkusen fans but Bundesliga fans in general as there were many neutrals who finally wanted a different champion and see our win as a potential return of competitiveness. Joining Bayern after having coached another club would probably go down much better, though. In regards to Barca and United, I think there would always be drama regardless of the time of his move there. Can't imagine he'd do that, definitely not for his first stint at a top club. Too much noise and distraction.
Anyway, I'm still convinced he'll go to Madrid. The whole Ancelotti situation, his own extension shortly before, both contracts running until 2026, all that fits together far too well to be a coincidence. He probably still saw stuff he had to learn first (CL experience, keeping the motivation of the team high in the post-title season, etc.) and Perez gave him the required time for that by extending Carlo's contract.
It's quite funny that one of our biggest manager legends actually played not just for one but two of our local rivals.
With that being said, let's make Xabi 2025 happen.
He’s not a scouser, why would he reject United if we make a move for him? I’m sure he’ll put serious consideration into it. If Liverpool approach Michael Carrick, i’m sure he’ll jump at the chance to manage them and I wouldn’t begrudge him for it
Type of midfielder we could kill for, honestly. Top percentile in passes attempted, passing accuracy, and progressive passes. Bit of a maestro in there this season.
Look at the guy! He should be a legend for anyone.
On a more serious note: he is not a Bayern legend, but still loved there. He simply seems to be a great guy.
We'd love to have him. I dont think he is interested in us. He has his eyes on the Madrid job
We need to spend the next year tapping him up. Convince him of the new structure in place and assure him that we can get all his transfer targets.
Keep ETH for one more year or get a placeholder manager, then switch to Xabi.
Keep ETH for one more year or get a placeholder manager, then switch to Xabi.