Why Xabi Alonso Staying Makes Sense
Sometimes the bigger job isn't the better one
On Friday the biggest name on the coaching carousel got off and announced he was staying put (for a season at least).
Xabi Alonso announced that he would remain at Bayer Leverkusen next year (at least) and was not interested in other positions (read Bayern Munich and Liverpool). The decision shocked many people who expected him to leave for one of the game’s biggest brands or Germany’s powerhouse (which also happens to be a major brand).
The decision is not as shocking as it may seem at first glance.
Why was I not surprised that he is staying? A few reasons below:
Liverpool and Bayern will soon be transforming: A recruiter once told me you want to leave a job to a successor that is a chance for growth. Leaving when the job will oversee a downturn (or rebuild in sports parlance) is bad form. Although Liverpool’s roster is stacked and there is money for players, the core of Klopp’s club is aging and the next manager may have to make some tough decisions. In the grind that is the Premier League, a small Liverpool slip could mean finishing outside a Champions League place and a pink slip for you. Similarly, what happens to Bayern after not winning the title for the first time in forever? What kind of roster will you have to manage?
There’s little downside to staying: If Leverkusen can nab one of the multiple trophies it is chasing, Xabi Alonso’s reputation with the club is set. For so much history, they have very little hardware, and the manager who adds to that cements his name in the club’s history. Next year looks a little more nebulous. If the club gets its talent poached - as it inevitably will - Xabi Alonso will have a hard time repeating this year’s success. Despite that, he can look to the man he was to replace at Liverpool and see how success and failure, done right, didn’t hurt his career post-Mainz.
Staying allows him to grow as a manager: Gab Marcotti, who knows Xabi Alonso’s career well, made a great point in this article. In short, the manager has a chance to grow himself professionally outside of the pressure cooker of a “win it all now” club. Many young managers hop at the first major opportunity presented, assuming it will never come again, and burn out quickly when their luster fades as results do not come. Staying put allows Xabi Alonso some space (not a ton but some) to grow as a manager, learn more about how to handle situations like success, and make another move when the time is right. Again, he has a chance to model his career after Jurgen Klopp’s and pick his times and opportunities.
Enjoy your success! If Leverkusen wins the league and the cup, staying put allows you to enjoy that success without needing to pack up ASAP for the next gig. This seems like a small thing, but enjoying success is a rare opportunity in the game.