Xabi Alonso suggests he could have become Liverpool manager if ‘timing’ was right

Former Kop star Xabi Alonso will be in the Chelsea dugout when the new Premier League season gets underway next month

Former Kop idol Xabi Alonso says that his decision to join Liverpool’s Premier League rivals Chelsea as manager, instead of making an emotional return to the Reds, is all “about timings”.

The Spaniard, who scored in Liverpool’s never-to-be-forgotten 2005 Champions League triumph in Istanbul, had been heavily linked with an Anfield reunion after he parted company with Real Madrid last season, whilst the Reds struggled for form and consistency under Arne Slot.

A fifth-place finish in the Premier League was not enough to save the Dutchman from the sack, but by the time that he was relieved of his duties by FSG, Alonso had already agreed a deal to succeed Liam Rosenior in the Stamford Bridge hotseat.

The Spaniard started his managerial tenure with the West London club last week and during an interview with the BBC, he was asked directly why he had ended up at Chelsea and not Liverpool, as many had expected.

Alonso said: “Well, it is about timings. I am here today on my first day at Stamford Bridge, talking to you. I am looking forward to this challenge, a big challenge, and Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs and I am looking forward to having success here.”

BBC Sport had previously reported that Alonso had been in contact with Liverpool’s representatives prior to accepting the job at Chelsea. At that time, externally it appeared the the Reds’ owners FSG were prepared to stick with under-pressure Slot, who won the Premier League in his first season in the job.

But poor results and routinely disappointing performances led to large sections of supporters losing faith in the head coach, and in turn, his contract was terminated with a year still yet to run.

Andoni Iraola, a childhood friend of Alonso, has since replaced Slot and faced the media for the first time on Monday morning in his maiden Liverpool press conference.

The 44-year-old, who only signed a two-year deal, has acknowledged that he will need to set about making new signings after Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all left the club this summer.

Alonso and Iraola will come face-to-face as Premier League managers for the first time on Saturday, December 5 at Stamford Bridge, subject to TV broadcast arrangements.

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