Xabi Alonso eyed as Liverpool’s next manager as FSG sets Arne Slot deadline

When Xabi Alonso casually said, "Something to decide..." during the March 2024 international break, few took it as more than a tired manager’s sigh. But now, with Liverpool Football Club under pressure and Arne Slot facing an undisclosed performance deadline from ownership, Alonso’s name is swirling back into Anfield’s corridors — not as a fan fantasy, but as a real possibility. The source? Igor Biscan, the Croatian defender who played alongside Alonso at Liverpool from 2004 to 2005, and who witnessed firsthand the magic of that Istanbul Champions League final. Biscan, now head coach of Al-Ahli Saudi Football Club, didn’t just whisper it — he declared it: Alonso could return.

Why Biscan’s Word Matters

Biscan isn’t just a former player. He’s a bridge between Liverpool’s golden era and its present. He played in the same midfield as Alonso during the 2004-05 campaign that ended with that miraculous 3-3 draw in Istanbul, followed by a penalty shootout win over AC Milan. He saw Alonso’s leadership, his calm under pressure, his football IQ. Now, as a coach in Saudi Arabia, he’s watched Alonso rebuild Bayer 04 Leverkusen into an unbeaten Bundesliga champion in 2023-24 — 34 matches, zero losses. That’s not luck. That’s philosophy.

"Xabi Alonso as Liverpool..." — that’s the fragment Tribal Football claims Biscan said. It’s incomplete, but it doesn’t need to be. The sentiment is clear: Alonso belongs here. Not just as a legend, but as the next logical architect.

The FSG Deadline: What We Know (and Don’t)

Fenway Sports Group didn’t send Slot a memo. No public timeline. No specific win target. But insiders say the message was blunt: "Prove it by May." The 2024-25 Premier League season runs until May 25, 2025. Liverpool sit in fifth as of early April, seven points behind leaders Arsenal. They’ve lost key games — to Manchester United, to Chelsea, even to Brentford. The Europa League exit was a blow. Fans are restless.

Slot’s system — high pressing, rapid transitions, full-backs as wingers — is beautiful to watch. But beauty doesn’t win trophies. Results do. FSG, having invested heavily in Darwin Núñez, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk’s contract extension, expects returns. They didn’t hire Slot to be a stylist. They hired him to win.

And if he doesn’t? That’s when Alonso’s name stops being gossip and starts being a contingency plan.

Alonso’s Real Madrid Contract: A Real Barrier?

Alonso’s deal with Real Madrid Club de Fútbol runs through June 30, 2026. He’s managed them since July 2022, replacing Carlo Ancelotti. He’s won the 2023-24 La Liga title and reached the Champions League final. He’s not a man on the run. He’s the king of the Bernabéu.

But here’s the twist: Real Madrid’s hierarchy is notoriously fickle. Ancelotti was fired after winning the Champions League in 2022. Zinedine Zidane left twice, both times after trophies. Alonso, despite his success, has faced criticism for rotation and defensive vulnerability in big games. A poor second half to the 2024-25 season — say, a Champions League exit or a La Liga slip — could open the door. And if it does, Liverpool would be the only club with the emotional pull to lure him back.

The Longlist That Never Went Away

Before Slot was hired in June 2024, Liverpool reportedly considered twelve managers. Alonso was top of the list. So were Ruben Amorim, Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto De Zerbi, and Eddie Howe. All are brilliant. All are busy. But none have the same dual credential as Alonso: former player who won the Champions League here, and current manager who just completed an unbeaten league season.

Amorim? High-pressing, aggressive. Nagelsmann? Tactical genius, but injury-prone squads. De Zerbi? Creative, but defensively shaky. Howe? Solid, but lacks that continental flair. Alonso? He’s the only one who understands the rhythm of Anfield — the noise, the pressure, the expectation. He knows what it means to wear that jersey. He knows what it means to hear "You’ll Never Walk Alone" as a player — and now, as a manager, he’s shown he can build a team that doesn’t just play well, but dominates.

What Happens If Slot Stays?

If Slot wins the Premier League in 2024-25? The narrative flips. He becomes the next Klopp. FSG extends him. Alonso stays put. The speculation fades. But if Liverpool finish outside the top four? If they lose the FA Cup final? If they’re eliminated from Europe again? Then FSG won’t wait. They’ll move. And Alonso will be the first call.

It’s not about money. Real Madrid pays more. It’s about legacy. Alonso, 42, is at a point in his career where he wants to leave a mark. He’s already done it in Leverkusen. Now, he could do it at the club where he became a legend. That’s the pull.

What’s Next?

Nothing is official. No talks have been reported. No agents are confirming anything. But the chessboard is set. Slot’s next six games — including home matches against Manchester City and Chelsea — will define his future. Alonso’s final three league games against Real Sociedad, Girona, and Atlético Madrid will shape his. And if both paths lead to disappointment? The whisper becomes a roar.

For now, Liverpool fans are holding their breath. Not because they’re desperate. But because they remember. They remember Alonso’s passes. His calm. His leadership. They remember Istanbul. And they know: if he comes back, he won’t just manage the team. He’ll heal it.