The 42-year-old Spaniard has Leverkusen on course for a trophy treble, including their first ever German league crown. "It's been a season of speculation regarding my future," Alonso told a press conference.
"Last week I had a meeting when I informed (Leverkusen's directors) of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen." Alonso said he was still developing as a coach and he felt Leverkusen, his first senior team coaching post, is the best place for him to continue growing.
Alonso has a contract until 2026 but had been linked with moves to Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, all clubs where he spent time as a player, having done a stunning job at runaway Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen.
The former Spain midfielder, who was a member of the side that won the Euro in 2008 and 2012 as well as the 2010 World Cup, is aiming to complete a treble. Aside from topping the table they are in the final four of the German Cup and the quarter-finals of the Europa League and could potentially meet Liverpool in the final.
With Alonso out of the race to replace Klopp, the frontrunners are believed to be Sporting Lisbon head coach Ruben Amorim and Brighton's Italian manager Roberto De Zerbi.
De Zerbi can further impress his potential employers on Sunday as he takes his side to Liverpool and is yet to come off second best against Klopp in four meetings. Speaking in Liverpool after Alonso had made his announcement, Klopp said he understood his decision.
"He is doing an incredible job there. Leverkusen has a good team and they will probably keep the team together," Klopp said. "That's a possibility and not all years it is like that. So I understand that he wants to do that."
Klopp shocked the football world when he announced in
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