Joe Cole believes Xabi Alonso has made a ‘terrible decision’ to stay at Bayer Leverkusen and turn down the chance to become Liverpool manager.
Alonso was heavily tipped to replace Jurgen Klopp in the Anfield dugout this summer and was also closely linked to the Bayern Munich job.
But on Friday, the Spaniard announced that he intended to remain at Leverkusen for at least another season, with his side currently on the cusp of winning the Bundesliga and still unbeaten in all competitions.
It’s a bitter blow for Liverpool and Bayern, with Alonso one of the best young managers in the world and the obvious candidate to succeed Klopp or Thomas Tuchel.
Given just how good Leverkusen have been this campaign, it is understandable why the 42-year-old is reluctant to leave the German side just yet, but Cole thinks that the manager has made the wrong call.
‘I think it’s a terrible decision. He is the hottest property in world football, in management right now,’ the former Chelsea and Liverpool attacker told TNT Sports.
‘A manager’s stock goes up and down so quickly. I think he should have made the move this summer because in a year’s time it could be completely different.
‘Keeping this [Leverkusen] team together is going to be tough enough because they’ve got some fantastic players and all the big giants in Europe are going to be looking at them.’
Fellow pundit and former Bayern Munich star Owen Hargreaves disagreed however, though admitted the news was: ‘Probably a bit of a surprise.
‘Most managers when they’re stock is high tend to strike but Xabi, relatively young as a manager, wants to stay where he’s comfortable.
‘Bayern wanted him, Real [Madrid], Liverpool… so I’m impressed actually and I think he’s made the right call. Stay another year and see what happens in the summer.
‘If he wins the Bundesliga and potentially a European trophy, and if he keeps that team together it could be something very special.’
With Alonso no longer available, Liverpool are now focusing their efforts on hiring either Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi and Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim.
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