Xabi Alonso refuses to rule out future Premier League move

Alonso emerged as the initial favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp after the Liverpool manager announced he would leave at the end of the season.

The 42-year-old was also linked with another of his former clubs Bayern Munich, who earmarked him potential successor for Thomas Tuchel.

However, Alonso ultimately quashed speculation surrounding his future when he confirmed his intention to stay with Leverkusen for at least one more season.

While the Spaniard is currently committed to Leverkusen, he has left the door open to coaching in the Premier League in the future.

"You never know," Alonso told reporters when asked about working in the English top flight ahead of Leverkusen's Europa League clash with West Ham United.

"At the moment I have enough on my plate to think about, but I'm still young as a coach and for sure it's a nice one.

"It's a very exciting competition with so many great players, coaches, great clubs, stadiums - and West Ham is one of them."

Alonso's remarkable managerial journey

Alonso has managed to develop a reputation as one of the best young coaches in the world during his five-year managerial career.

The 42-year-old began his coaching journey with Real Sociedad's B team, leading the side to promotion to the Segunda Division in his second season in charge.

Alonso was unable to keep the team in the second tier and ultimately left his role in the summer of 2022 to continue his coaching career elsewhere.

The opportunity arrived for Alonso to take over the reins at Leverkusen in November 2022, with the Spanish manager guiding the team from the relegation zone to a sixth-place finish and a semi-final appearance in the Europa League.

Alonso, who is under contract until June 2026, has gone on to oversee a historic 2023-24 campaign, with Leverkusen on the verge of winning the Bundesliga, while also being in the DFB-Pokal final and the Europa League quarter-finals.