No agreement for Xabi Alonso to coach Borussia Mönchengladbach

Xabi Alonso is not set to become manager of Borussia Mönchengladbach for next season, despite reports claiming the former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder was on his way to the Bundesliga club.

The coach of Real Sociedad B has received a significant number of offers to coach clubs next season, among them Mönchengladbach, with whom his advisors had spoken over the last fortnight. But according to sources in Germany, Alonso has not agreed to replace Marco Rose. Mönchengladbach are now looking at other candidates.

Alonso’s contract at Real Sociedad runs out in the summer and no firm decision has been made yet. He is 39 and there is no hurry, although there are hopes that his short-term future will be resolved over the next couple of weeks.

That the story first broke in the German tabloid Bild adds an element of intrigue to the pursuit of a man who was coached by Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benítez and José Mourinho and whom many believe has the tools to become a manager at elite level. Bayern Munich have made no secret of their intention to bring him to the club in some capacity and have approached him about a role there in the past. Alonso, who began his career at Real Sociedad, won three Bundesliga titles with Bayern after being signed by Guardiola in 2014.

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Bayern’s chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, told Kicker in 2019: “I think we have to make an effort to bring Xabi Alonso back to Bayern at some point. He is the best central midfielder we’ve had in recent years. He wasn’t the quickest, but he was the best strategically and the most intelligent I’ve ever seen in our midfield. He was a marvellous player, who speaks four languages and German fluently. He was a real personality. I’d really like him to return to Bayern one day, he’s a true gentleman.”

source: theguardian.com