Xabi Alonso is in the middle of a process of regaining the energy that drained away during his spell in charge of Real Madrid, which began last June.
He knows that, sooner rather than later, the chance to return to the dugout will be there once his time with the Madrid club is fully behind him, but he is clear that he will not jump on the first train that stops outside his door. That would go against his character and his understanding of work and commitment. For now, it is all about active rest.
Back in spring 2024, he passed up opportunities with Bayern Munich and Liverpool. He felt it was not the right moment to move on and that staying at Bayer Leverkusen made more sense. Now he is waiting patiently before making any decision, but he already knows that a return to Anfield would be warmly welcomed. The club see him as part of their short-term future or as a target for the 2026–27 season, and the man from Tolosa is perfectly content with that outlook.
Waiting, however, does not mean turning his back on what is coming. Neither Alonso nor Iñaki Ibáñez, his agent and trusted confidant, are ignoring what is on the horizon – and one of those possibilities is Liverpool. The club’s executives know that the former Madrid player – who still considers himself as such despite his farewell to the Bernabéu – is determined to return to Anfield. Any doubts that existed during the first approach to the club he represented for five seasons are now gone.
Arne Slot is the current occupant of the Liverpool bench and knows that every game is an audition. The club have told him he will see out the season, a risky show of faith given that this Liverpool side has struggled for cohesion. That inconsistency has been reflected in a hesitant campaign, underlined again on Saturday by a defeat to Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, despite the club spending roughly $525 million last summer.
What Liverpool are doing now is trying to get ahead of events and establish whether Alonso is truly available. A call to those close to the coach was met with a positive response, bringing a sense of calm to Anfield. The respect he commands as a former player blends seamlessly with admiration for him as a coach, despite his recent step back from the spotlight.
On the flight home from Jeddah, Alonso already sensed that his time at Real Madrid was nearing its end. He threw everything into trying to beat Barcelona and lift the Spanish Super Cup. He was convinced he could turn things around, but success never came and the whole structure collapsed. The breathing space he has taken over the past two weeks has allowed him to see things differently – and the idea of gazing out over the Mersey each day, as he did two decades ago, is once again an enticing one.