"Xabi Alonso told me he wouldn't come with the same elegance as when he was playing"

Marseille president Pablo Longoria has confirmed in an interview with 'So Foot' that he tried to sign Xabi Alonso for the French bench after Sampaoli's departure in 2022. The response from the San Sebastian coach was a resounding "no". Longoria said: "He told me no with the same elegance he had when he played football, and as if it was a long 40-metre pass. 

The Spanish president said he went to see Alonso. After his offer was rejected, he said he was not angry: "I should have been angry for rejecting me, but I almost wanted to thank him. 

Longoria explained that Xabi Alonso had decided what he wanted: "He knew perfectly well the four teams he wanted to coach and was prepared to wait for them." In the end, the Spanish coach opted for Bayer Leverkusen.

Xabi Alonso's time in Germany has been a success. He has the team at the top of the Bundesliga and he is competing against the reigning champions Bayern Munich.

February 5, 2024