Xabi Alonso: ‘I love Liverpool but I don’t have time for tourism’ Anfield will always cherish its hero from Istanbul, but Xabi Alonso, now the head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, returns with a new story to tell. As Alonso graced Anfield once more, he exuded elegance, weighing his options before effortlessly switching play. If the ball had been at his feet, it would have felt as though he had never left. However, when the topic turned to the prospect of succeeding Jürgen Klopp as Liverpool's manager, the former midfielder displayed a masterful touch in his response. Fifteen years after concluding a playing career marked by style, a memorable night in Istanbul, and a deep connection with Steven Gerrard, Alonso returned with Leverkusen to face Liverpool in the Champions League. He could have made this return sooner had Liverpool shown any interest in him as a potential candidate for a managerial role this summer. However, he did not entertain that possibility at the time and was not inclined to discuss it further during his pre-match press conference on Monday.