According to Uli Hoeneß, FC Bayern Munich would like to bring in Xabi Alonso as their new coach. “We would like to sign him,” said the influential honorary president of the German soccer record champions to Bayerischer Rundfunk. However, Hoeneß added that the chances of luring the former Bayern player and current coach of Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen to Munich were not very great.

A return campaign would be “very difficult, not to say probably impossible,” said the 72-year-old. Hoeneß expects the Spanish coach to stay in Leverkusen. He could “imagine that, the way I got to know him and appreciate him, he would be more inclined to carry on because he doesn’t want to leave it behind now.”

“He is now training at a club that is currently in the process of becoming German champions. He has a lot to thank this club for, and so does she,” added Hoeneß. "If he had had two or three years more success, it would probably be easier to get him out of there." If, as he expected, things don't work out with Alonso, "it will be the task of the sporting management to look for and find alternatives."

Sports director Max Eberl said at Sky about the coach search in general: "It would be nice if we could do it in April." But he doesn't want to commit to a fixed date: "If it takes a little longer, it just takes a little longer." Eberl emphasized: "We want to make the best decision."