Jurgen Klopp has admitted he understands Xabi Alonso‘s decision to remain at Bayer Leverkusen.
Former Liverpool midfielder Alonso had been strongly linked to his former club after his exploits in Germany, with the Spaniard touted to replace Klopp when he leaves in the summer.
However, Alonso – who was also tipped to succeed Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich – announced on Friday that he plans to stay with Leverkusen for the foreseeable future, claiming he feels happy and valued at the club.
And Klopp, speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s game with Brighton on Sunday, insisted he could relate to Alonso’s decision.
‘The one part I can speak about is being a young manager where he’s doing really well,’ he said.
Jurgen Klopp has admitted he understands Xabi Alonso’s decision to stay at Bayer Leverkusen
Alonso had been strongly linked with replacing Klopp, but has chosen to stay with Leverkusen
‘I had a similar situation and did pretty much the same and never regretted it. That’s pretty much everything I can say.
‘Xabi is doing an incredible job there. Leverkusen has a really good team and could keep the team together next season.
‘It doesn’t happen every year like that. I understand that he wants to do that.’
Klopp originally made his name in coaching with Mainz between 2001 and 2008, before he moved onto Borussia Dortmund.
Over seven subsequent years with Dortmund, Klopp continually performed above expectations and challenged Bayern despite dealing with vastly inferior resources.
He oversaw successive Bundesliga triumphs in 2010-11 and 2011-12, while he also led BVB to the 2012-13 Champions League final where they lost to Bayern.
Alonso’s bombshell – which Mail Sport reported on Thursday – leaves Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim as the leading candidate to replace Klopp, alongside Brighton‘s Roberto De Zerbi.
Amorim, 39, is expected to be given an interview after he scored well on Liverpool’s data tests.
Alonso, who was seen as Liverpool’s dream target, has overseen a revolution at Bayer Leverkusen since joining in October 2022.
He has overseen a remarkable transformation with Leverkusen, who are unbeaten this season
When Alonso signed up, Leverkusen were in the relegation zone but he steered them into the top six.
This campaign, they are 10 points clear of Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga, unbeaten all season, and into the last eight of the Europa League for a second year running.
Such has their impressive season been that they are set to end Bayern’s monopoly on the Bundesliga, with the Bavarian giants having won the title for 11 consecutive seasons.
Speaking earlier on Friday about his decision, Alonso had said: ‘There has been a lot of speculation around my future, we have been busy and focused and I wanted the international break to reflect a bit better.
‘I had a very good meeting with the decision makers, and I decided to stay at Bayer Leverkusen. I feel this is the right place to develop as a coach. I have to feel it, and right now I feel this is the right place… my job is not over here.’
He went on to add: ‘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 went on to speak about how he felt valued at the German side. He told reporters: ‘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.
Klopp (pictured in 2013) revealed he made a similar decision to Alonso early in his career
Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorin has now emerged as the front-runner to replace Klopp
‘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, for the hunger to have a great season.’
Alonso finished by saying: ‘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.
‘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.’
