Xabi Alonso has followed in Jurgen Klopp's footsteps by taking on Bayern Munich, but now he's learning the dark side of challenging the German giants in the beautiful game.
Bayern Munich's unsportsmanlike behaviour
The Liverpool legend led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title last season, becoming only the second man in a quarter of a century to do so after Klopp. This season, however, he's been unable to follow up, with Vincent Kompany's side eight points clear at the top of the table and well on their way to Harry Kane's first professional trophy. Alonso, who played for the Bavarians from 2014 to 2017, has another chance to inflict some pain on his old side, with them clashing in a mammoth Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday night.
Tapping up Leverkusen's best player
In the days leading up to the first leg in Munich, three of the club's most senior figures have expressed their desire to sign reigning Bundesliga Player of the Year, Florian Wirtz. Honorary president Uli Hoeness got the ball rolling, saying: "I would love to get Florian Wirtz if the opportunity arose." Current president, Herbert Hainer, later agreed saying: "As a football fan, you have to admit that Florian Wirtz is an outstanding player. Florian Wirtz is one of the best German players – and you know how we have handled it in recent years: We want the best players to be with us. And that is why Uli is certainly right."
And if that wasn't enough to get Alonso's blood boiling, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has joined in to an even stronger degree, adding: "Everyone at Bayern agrees that he is the player we want to sign. Not to weaken Leverkusen, but to strengthen us. Wirtz is the best player in Germany."
Bayern's past antics
This isn't the first time Bayern have attempted to unsettle their opponents before a big game. In 2013, with Bayern taking on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final, the Bavarians announced a £32million deal to sign Klopp's star player, Mario Gotze. Klopp said the announcement 'felt like a heart attack,' adding: "It's going to take a while, this news is not good for us. The timing of it is not ideal. Anybody can make their own minds up as to why it's come out now, but it is out."
Matthaus, a Bayern legend, was again critical of his old side, saying: "It's not fair, it's unbelievable," and calling the tactics 'mischievous' while accusing Gotze of a 'betrayal'. Bayern had already wrapped up the Bundesliga at that point, but there were still three games to go, one of which was at the Westfalenstadion.
Later, in 2022, Klopp was once again left fuming with his old rivals when it emerged that they'd agreed a £35million deal with Liverpool for star man Sadio Mane days before a Champions League final against Real Madrid. "The Bayern rumours, I couldn't care less," Klopp said in his pre-match press conference. "We are all fully focused, Sadio is fully focused."
Alonso's challenge
Both in 2013 and 2023, Klopp lost the finals after distractions from Bayern, and it will be something Alonso is desperately keen to avoid. However, if it's any consolation for Klopp, both Gotze and Mane completely flopped at their new club, but it's hard to imagine Wirtz doing the same.
