Bayern Munich confirm interest in Xabi Alonso

The summer will see coaching changes at some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Bayern Munich are also in the market for a new head coach after announcing the decision to part ways with Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season.

Tuchel joined Bayern in March 2022. He helped the team to retain the Bundesliga title, but performances have not been up to the mark this season. Bayern are unlikely to win the Bundesliga for the first time in 12 years. The Bavarian club is trailing league leaders Bayer Leverkusen by ten points after 26 games.

After losing three consecutive games in February, Bayern sat down with Tuchel and decided to part ways at the end of the season. The German coach was disappointed with this decision as he wanted to stay in Munich until 2025.

Bayern want Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso to replace Tuchel. The Bavarian club has reportedly held preliminary talks with the Spanish coach. While talking to Ran Sport this week, Bayern’s board member Uli Hoeness confirmed Die Roten’s interest in Xabi Alonso.

""He has proven that he can be a coach for the really big teams and it will be much more difficult because clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, Leverkusen [to keep him] and also FC Bayern are working on it. There's hardly a coach who is suitable and is currently free. Instead, there are coaches who are under contract somewhere and having great success. It's not so easy to tell them that FC Bayern is the place to be.""

- Uli Hoeness

Alonso has done a tremendous job at Bayer Leverkusen this season. He has helped them to get a significant lead in the Bundesliga title race. It will be the first league title for Bayer Leverkusen if they manage to keep up their form for the remaining eight games. Along with leading the Bundesliga title race, Bayer Leverkusen are also going deep into cup competitions (DFB Pokal and Europa League).

The Spanish coach has instilled a winning mentality in the squad. Leverkusen are resilient as they often come back in games when they are not at their best. Moreover, the style of football is also attractive. Since he had spent the last three years of his playing career at Bayern, Alonso know the ethos of the club.

Bayern will face stiff competition from Liverpool for Xabi Alonso. The Merseyside club is also looking for a new head coach since Jurgen Klopp is leaving at the end of the season. Alonso also has past links with Real Madrid, but the Spanish club has tied down Carlo Ancelotti until 2025.

Max Eberl has been tight-lipped about talks/negotiations for a new coach. However, he did name-drop Alonso while talking to the media this week. The Bavarian club will hope to reach an agreement with Alonso before the end of the season to hit the ground running for the next campaign.