Xabi Alonso has made a brave choice – and it leaves one clear winner

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Xabi Alonso had a unique style of playing football that was uniquely his own. This was one of his strongest qualities as a player, as he possessed a calm and composed attitude on the field that allowed him to always consider the bigger picture and make the right decisions. Similar to other Spanish midfielders, Xabi did not always opt for the obvious choice when making a move. However, when he did decide to play a long pass, he did so with remarkable efficiency and skill.

The qualities that made one of the smartest players a likely candidate for coaching are evident in the decisions he's made about his career. Alonso had the opportunity to quickly land gigs at two of his former teams, both of which are top European clubs. However, he's chosen to take things slowly by staying at Bayer Leverkusen. He's been deliberate in his decision-making and methodical in plotting his course.

The topic of my future has caused much talk and wondering, but I have been occupied and dedicated to my team. I wanted to take advantage of the international break to reassess my situation. I had a positive meeting with those who make the decisions, and I ultimately decided to remain with Bayer Leverkusen. It's important for me to have a sense of certainty, and at this moment, I truly believe this club is the right fit for me.

It can be assumed that he will eventually become part of either Bayern Munich, Liverpool, or Real Madrid or possibly even more since there is a lot of change in coaching staff at Allianz Arena and Bernabeu. He has a great reputation and is considered by Jurgen Klopp as a brilliant manager who will lead the next generation.

It's unusual for both Bayern and Liverpool to search for a new manager at the same time, but it has happened before in 2011 and 2004. However, Klopp has shown at Anfield that he prefers stability and his long reign there is a testament to its benefits. It's possible that Klopp's successor won't be chosen until the early 2030s.

To put it one way, Alonso may be turning down a rare chance to manage. On the other hand, there's no assurance that he was truly the top choice for Liverpool, even if it seemed that way. Some people at Anfield thought he would stick with Leverkusen for another year. It's possible that Bayern, who showed the most interest in Alonso, were the ones most disappointed by his decision.

Real Madrid might find some positive signs from the fact that Carlo Ancelotti is signed until he's 67, which is in 2026. This could mean that they are considering Xabi Alonso, a rare Spanish coach who has more connections to Bernabeu than Nou Camp, to take over his role.

Munich It was rumored that Fernando Alonso was being considered as a potential replacement for Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich. The public speculated about how well the retired Formula One driver could do as a football manager. However, nothing came of the rumors and Tuchel continued as the coach of Bayern Munich. It just goes to show how surprising the world of sports can be, with unexpected changes and choices.

Perhaps, Alonso is playing the strategic game. He is close to accomplishing a feat that will make history and remain significant for years to come - securing Leverkusen's first-ever Bundesliga title, putting an end to Bayern's lengthy 11-year dominance. Furthermore, other notable successes could be on the horizon, such as an undefeated season or a remarkable treble.

It's possible that there will be more accomplishments to come in the next season. He expressed that he still has work to do here and his job isn't finished.

Alonso has established very high expectations that would be difficult to meet, hence the only possible direction for Leverkusen to go is down. One may wonder how far they may fall. With Bayern's economic superiority and more talented players, it is reasonable to assume they will reclaim the Bundesliga crown next season. Yet, if Leverkusen finishes second or third, it would be a far better outcome than coming in fifth or sixth.

Klopp, the former coach of Borussia Dortmund, achieved notable success by retaining the Bundesliga title and making it to a Champions League final. However, some argue that he stayed with the team for too long. Despite this, Klopp's reputation is strong and he managed to secure a role as the Liverpool coach. It is now believed that Klopp's performance at Liverpool is difficult to top and the person who succeeds him may face a daunting task. It may be better to take on the role of the coach after the person who follows Klopp instead.

Alonso has taken a gamble, but it indicates that he is self-assured in his skill.

When Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the ex-CEO, considered Alonso as a likely Bayern manager even before he joined the first team, it's highly likely that the footballer could be offered various chances to lead in Bavaria. Unlike Klopp, who declined offers from Bayern several times, it's anticipated that Alonso would most likely accept an opportunity to manage the team.

Many people thought it was certain that Bayern and Liverpool would compete against each other to get Alonso, but it turns out that Leverkusen was more confident about keeping him than previously thought. And they were right to be optimistic.

Alonso displays individual thinking with his choices. This is not the first time he has done so. He rejected an offer from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2021 to remain as the head coach of Real Sociedad's B team. Instead, he went to the same area of Germany in the Bundesliga 18 months later.

He has put off his move to a larger platform once more, but it's likely that he will eventually make the transition. This has had an impact on the job market for managers this summer, as the top candidate has dropped out of the running. This could result in the people who are ultimately hired being judged unfavorably compared to Alonso. Additionally, it's possible that a less qualified candidate might be selected for one of the highly desirable positions.

One of the smartest moves Alonso could make early on in his career as a manager is to keep learning while at Leverkusen. He believes that this club is the ideal place for him to hone his coaching skills. This shows that he has faith in his ability to improve further and that this isn't his only opportunity to work at a top club like Liverpool or Bayern. However, sometimes the most courageous decision is to refrain from taking action. Therefore, by deciding not to leave, Alonso has taken a daring step.