Xabi Alonso has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to take over as head coach of Liverpool next season, with a contract valid for three years, according to the Spanish newspaper OK Diario. The publication states that the agreement includes a release clause if Arne Slot manages to lead the Reds to win the UEFA Champions League, a scenario considered possible but unlikely, given the team's performance level and the strength of other contenders. Liverpool faces Galatasaray in the round of 16, and if they advance, they could meet PSG, the European champions, in the quarter-finals. It is worth noting that the first informal contacts between the Anfield club and Xabi Alonso's close circle occurred in the last week of November 2025. At that time, the Spanish coach was already in a weakened position at Real Madrid, and the discussions took place during the week of the Madrid team's match in Athens against Olympiakos, which ended in a 4-3 victory. Liverpool wanted to know Alonso's availability to replace Arne Slot for the following season. OK Diario recalls that Liverpool's interest in the coach is not new. In the summer of 2024, both the Reds and Bayern attempted to sign the Spaniard after Alonso made history by winning the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal with Bayer Leverkusen, going unbeaten. However, at that time, the coach rejected all offers. Last year, Alonso accepted to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at the helm of Real Madrid. The Spaniard was seen as the ideal man to bring a new impetus and modern working methods. His tenure with the Madrid team began at the Club World Cup, where he led a weakened team to the semi-finals, being eliminated by PSG. The Spanish daily highlights the turning point as the second El Clásico of La Liga against Barcelona. 'Although Real Madrid won the match 2-1, an incident with Vinícius Jr. during his substitution created a tense atmosphere in the locker room. The club did nothing and backed the player, who apologized 72 hours later but did not include the coach in his apology. From that moment on, Alonso tried to disguise himself as Ancelotti, stopped training, and attempted to manage the locker room. Everything worsened,' states the Spanish article, which recalls that the farewell came in another match against Barça, in the defeat in the Supercopa de España final. 'Since then, Xabi Alonso became aware that his future would lead him to Anfield, which resulted in the current verbal agreement to coach Liverpool for the next three seasons,' concludes OK Diario.
Liverpool OK Diario remains central to this story.
Liverpool OK Diario remains central to this story.
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