Bayern figurehead names Liverpool, Madrid as competitors in Alonso pursuit

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Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness expects the club to face a tough battle for Xabi Alonso's signature this summer.

The Spaniard has emerged as one of the hottest coaching talents on the planet as he closes in on an expected Bundesliga triumph with Bayer Leverkusen. Hoeness identified Bayern and Liverpool as candidates to appoint Alonso - the current bosses of each club are departing at the end of the season - while suggesting the midfielder's current employers and another one of his former clubs are trying to secure a deal with him.

"Clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, Leverkusen and FC Bayern are working on it," Hoeness told Ran Sport about the Alonso pursuit, as translated by BBC Sport.

"He's proven that he can be a coach for the big time. There are hardly any coaches who come into question who are currently free, who don't have a job, or who are on sabbatical."

Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp are set to step down from their respective roles at Bayern and Liverpool once the season's over. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is under contract until June 2026.

"It's not so easy to tell them that FC Bayern is the measure of all things," added Hoeness, who played for the Bavarian giants before stints as the club's general manager and then president.

After three years overseeing Real Sociedad's B team, Alonso took over Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022 - when they were positioned 17th in Germany's 18-team top tier - and has sparked a remarkable reversal of fortunes. In addition to Leverkusen's unbeaten march toward the Bundesliga title, they are in the Europa League quarterfinals and DFB-Pokal semifinals.

He also boasts plenty of playing pedigree. Through his spells orchestrating the midfield for Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Spain's national team, he won one World Cup, two European Championships, two Champions Leagues, four league titles, four domestic cups, and other major honors.