(The Guardian) 'Xabi Alonso to leave Bayer Leverkusen'
Via German magazine Kicker’s website: “Now it’s definitely a done deal: Xabi Alonso will leave Bayer 04 after this season. The successful coach announced this to the Leverkusen players before training on Friday afternoon.”
Confirmed: Alonso to leave Leverkusen
“The club and I have agreed that these two last games will be my last as Bayer Leverkusen coach,” he has announced in a press conference. “Now is the right moment.”
It has been reported in Spain he has agreed a pre-contract agreement to coach Real Madrid. More to follow…
Back to the big news: Alonso. This was a huge season for Leverkusen – make or break. Despite intense interest from elsewhere, the club were able to retain their Spanish manager and stars like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah. Had Leverkusen repeated last season’s Bundesliga title, or had some sort of European success then perhaps something of a dynasty could have been fashioned.
With Alonso now leaving, it feels inevitable that this storied Leverkusen side will now be broken up for parts. It’s still an exciting rebuild project for anyone that comes in – Leverkusen are still comfortably the second best team in Germany – but while some players like Alejandro Grimaldo and Victor Boniface could be retained, it’s a huge task to repeat the achievements of the Alonso years, particularly as it was largely based on the Spaniard’s coaching (and some smart recruitment).
Wirtz is the crown jewel of the side and is expected to leave. Real Madrid do not really need another No 10, but should Alonso go there, they will of course be linked with the young German. Bayern Munich and Manchester City are perhaps more likely destinations.
Frimpong reportedly has a £29.7m release clause in his contract, something that will not have escaped Liverpool, who are in the market for a new right back.
Tah’s contract is up in the summer, and he will surely move on. The ceremony to mark his 400th appearance for Leverkusen against Freiburg last week felt like a goodbye to the fans.
Via German magazine Kicker’s website: “Now it’s definitely a done deal: Xabi Alonso will leave Bayer 04 after this season. The successful coach announced this to the Leverkusen players before training on Friday afternoon.”
Confirmed: Alonso to leave Leverkusen
“The club and I have agreed that these two last games will be my last as Bayer Leverkusen coach,” he has announced in a press conference. “Now is the right moment.”
It has been reported in Spain he has agreed a pre-contract agreement to coach Real Madrid. More to follow…
Back to the big news: Alonso. This was a huge season for Leverkusen – make or break. Despite intense interest from elsewhere, the club were able to retain their Spanish manager and stars like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah. Had Leverkusen repeated last season’s Bundesliga title, or had some sort of European success then perhaps something of a dynasty could have been fashioned.
With Alonso now leaving, it feels inevitable that this storied Leverkusen side will now be broken up for parts. It’s still an exciting rebuild project for anyone that comes in – Leverkusen are still comfortably the second best team in Germany – but while some players like Alejandro Grimaldo and Victor Boniface could be retained, it’s a huge task to repeat the achievements of the Alonso years, particularly as it was largely based on the Spaniard’s coaching (and some smart recruitment).
Wirtz is the crown jewel of the side and is expected to leave. Real Madrid do not really need another No 10, but should Alonso go there, they will of course be linked with the young German. Bayern Munich and Manchester City are perhaps more likely destinations.
Frimpong reportedly has a £29.7m release clause in his contract, something that will not have escaped Liverpool, who are in the market for a new right back.
Tah’s contract is up in the summer, and he will surely move on. The ceremony to mark his 400th appearance for Leverkusen against Freiburg last week felt like a goodbye to the fans.
