Xabi Alonso’s coaching journey takes an unexpected turn

January 20, 2026 Oliver Obel

Not long ago, Xabi Alonso appeared to be on an express track toward Europe’s managerial elite. Today, the former World Cup winner finds himself without a club, weighing his next move after a rapid rise and an abrupt setback.

Alonso’s coaching reputation was forged in Germany, tested in Spain, and is now the subject of renewed speculation in England. How his next decision unfolds may determine whether his trajectory resumes its upward curve or stalls further.

A historic season in Germany

Alonso’s standing soared during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, where he oversaw one of the most remarkable campaigns in Bundesliga history. In the 2023–24 season, Leverkusen secured the league title without losing a single match an achievement that placed Alonso among the most admired young coaches in Europe.

The former Spain international, who lifted the World Cup as a player in 2010, was widely praised for his tactical discipline and calm authority. Under his guidance, Leverkusen evolved into a cohesive and dominant side, capable of controlling matches domestically and in Europe.

Given that success, few observers expected Alonso to remain in Germany for long.

A troubled return to Real Madrid

That next step arrived in the summer of 2025, when Alonso returned to Real Madrid, the club where he made 236 appearances during his playing career. The appointment was widely framed as a homecoming and a natural progression.

However, according to reporting from multiple outlets, the move did not deliver the hoped-for stability. Alonso was said to have fallen out with several senior players, including Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, as tensions surfaced behind the scenes.

The situation escalated quickly, and his tenure came to an early end. What had looked like a prestige appointment instead became a damaging interruption to his momentum.

England remains an option but not yet

Despite the disappointment in Madrid, Alonso’s reputation across Europe remains largely intact. According to The Times, he is “keen on a move to the Premier League,” a competition he knows well from five seasons as a player at Liverpool.

Speculation has included a potential return to Anfield, though there is no immediate pressure on Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. Crucially, Alonso is not seeking a rapid return to the dugout.

The same report states that he intends to “have a rest and will consider any offers from June,” a stance that has tempered talk of an imminent appointment.

Tottenham unrest, but no opening for now

Alonso’s availability has coincided with mounting frustration at Tottenham Hotspur, where head coach Thomas Frank has come under scrutiny amid a poor run of results. Spurs have managed only three wins in their last 15 matches, leaving them 14th in the Premier League table.

However, the club’s hierarchy is reportedly reluctant to act hastily. According to The Times and GOAL.com, Tottenham are “determined to give Frank time” and remain sympathetic to challenges including injuries, squad imbalance and upheaval behind the scenes.

There is also an internal acknowledgment that interim appointments have not served the club well in recent seasons, raising fears that the wrong decision could deepen existing problems.

For now, Alonso is not part of Tottenham’s immediate thinking and by choice, he appears content to wait.

A pause, not a conclusion

Coaching careers, particularly for former elite players, are rarely linear. Alonso’s journey from unbeaten champion to unemployed manager has unfolded with unusual speed, but it may yet prove a temporary detour rather than a defining setback.

What happens next will depend not just on opportunity, but on timing and whether Alonso chooses patience over urgency as he plots his return.

Sources: The Times, GOAL.com