Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said an announcement on his future was “not too far” away after he bid an emotional goodbye following his final home match with the club on Sunday.
On Friday, Alonso announced he would leave the club in the summer, with Sunday’s game — a 4-2 loss to Champions League-chasing Borussia Dortmund — his last at Leverkusen’s BayArena.
Alonso is widely expected to join Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League and La Liga as a player.
Madrid’s 4-3 loss at Barcelona on Sunday all but sealed the Spanish title for the Catalans, with coach Carlo Ancelotti expected to leave the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season, leaving the seat empty for Alonso.
Last season Alonso knocked back reported interest from Liverpool, Madrid and Bayern Munich. He Alonso has repeatedly dodged questions about his future, but indicated an announcement was around the corner.
“We will see in the future. Not too long, but we need to wait. Today is about our club, our players,” Alonso told DAZN.
“For me it’s the end of a super era in my life and I want to enjoy it, and afterwards we’ll see.
“I was emotional and this club will stay in my heart forever.”
Alonso took over in October 2022 with Leverkusen near the bottom of the table, lifting the club to a sixth-place finish. The following season, his first full campaign with the club, he steered Leverkusen to an unbeaten league and cup double.
The 43-year-old was presented with a ‘Xabi Alonso Allee’ street sign by club CEO Fernando Carro before Sunday’s match.
On the day Leverkusen won the league title last season, the first in their 120-year history, fans changed street signs around the stadium to reflect the manager’s name.
Speaking after the Dortmund loss, Alonso told reporters he would keep the sign in his office “even if it isn’t official, it doesn’t matter.”
“I’ll get it in my office, wherever it is, and I’ll try and explain it to people in some years. It’s a very meaningful thing for me, because it’s from the fans, from the people, and it means even more,” he said.
“I remember it as one of the greatest times of my life.”
Alonso’s final game in charge of Leverkusen will be away to Mainz next Saturday.
AFP
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