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Update (1:50PM EST)
Sport Bild reporter Christian Falk is walking back his earlier report that Xabi Alonso will be the next Borussia Mönchengladbach manager:
Update: @XabiAlonso and @borussia is not fixed yet. Max Eberl, Head of Sport Gladbach, speaks to at least other candidates! The Alonso alternative or alternatives are not yet known
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) March 22, 2021
What does this mean? Perhaps, the initial report from Falk was premature or perhaps M’Gladbach is just taking a bit more time to work out the finer details.
Either way, stay tuned.
Per a report from Bild (behind the Bild+ paywall), former Bayern Munich star Xabi Alonso will take over for Marco Rose as Borussia Mönchengladbach’s new manager for the 2021/2022 season.
Rose, of course, will be leaving Die Fohlen to take the reins at Borussia Dortmund after this season ends. Christian Falk dropped a tweet teasing the report and Goal journalist Ronan Murphy followed with the news:
Our Story: I LOVE this decision TRUE✅ Dieser Welt-Star wird neuer Gladbach-Trainer https://t.co/s0GkR0qjTh
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) March 22, 2021
Murphy’s follow-up tweet ended the suspense on who the candidate would be:
Xabi Alonso will be the next Borussia Mönchengladbach head coach, according to Bild. His Real Sociedad contract expires this summer. #BMG
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) March 22, 2021
Alonso is currently the manager for Real Sociedad B in the Segunda Division in Spain. At 39-years-old, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid star is highly-respected and was often talked about in Bayern Munich circles as the type of player who would eventually move on to be a great manager.
If this report is true, we should soon find out if those predictions are proven to be correct.
A move to Borussia Mönchengladbach would certainly be a big step for Alonso, but his familiarity with the language, country, and league should be a big asset to him during this potential transition.