Xabi Alonso has reportedly rejected the opportunity to become Marseille’s new manager, turning down an approach over concerns the club is ‘too chaotic’.
The Spaniard, 44, is looking for his next managerial role after being sacked by Real Madrid in early January, dramatically leaving the Bernabeu following just seven months in charge.
Marseille, who are in the market for a new manager after Roberto De Zerbi‘s explosive departure earlier this month, made an approach for Alonso but were ‘immediately’ rejected, French outlet RMC Sport have reported.
It is claimed the club’s ‘unstable situation’ was a deciding factor for Alonso, who enjoyed a fruitful three-year spell at Bayer Leverkusen prior to joining Real Madrid last summer.
Marseille have endured a tumultuous period since parting ways with De Zerbi, who left the club by mutual consent following a 5–0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain on February 8.
Sporting director Medhi Benatia, who was a team-mate of Xabi Alonso at Bayern Munich between 2014 and 2017, announced his resignation in a bombshell statement days after De Zerbi’s exit, claiming he could no longer ‘ignore the current climate’ following a ‘breakdown in communication’ at board level.
Xabi Alonso has reportedly rejected the opportunity to become Marseille’s new manager
Alonso was seemingly out off by the job after a period of chaos at the club that saw Mehdi Benatia resign as Marseille sporting director before returning just two days later
Benatia dramatically reversed his decision a day later after Marseille owner Frank McCourt rejected the resignation, jetting in from the United States to demote club president Pablo Longoria and hand the former Bayern Munich defender more control.
Benatia, 38, announced his resignation from the French side on last Sunday , just five days after De Zerbi departed the club following a chaotic period.
In a lengthy on social media statement, he claimed that he could no longer ‘ignore the current climate’ and he felt there had been ‘a breakdown in communication’ at the board level.
However, in a major twist of fate on Tuesday, Marseille owner Frank McCourt revealed that Benatia has changed his mind and will now remain in his position until the end of the season.
In a statement shared by McCourt, he explained that Longoria, who has been club president since 2021, will now take on ‘institutional responsibilities, in order to maintain the representation of Olympique de Marseille within French and particularly European bodies’.
The ongoing chaos at Marseille has reportedly proved too much for Alonso, who will ideally be looking for a long-term job when he returns to management after only carving out seven months at the Bernabeu.
The former Liverpool midfielder has been heavily linked with a return to Anfield after what has proved a challenging season for Reds boss Arne Slot.
Slot, who impressively guided Liverpool to the Premier League title in his first campaign at Anfield last term, has struggled for consistency this season, with his side languishing in sixth place outside the Champions League qualification spots.
The French side have gone on to appoint former Newcastle defender Habib Beye
While there is no suggestion Slot’s future at Anfield is under immediate threat, Alonso would be high on Liverpool’s list of successors should the Dutchman depart.
Following Alonso’s supposed rejection, Marseille turned to former Newcastle defender Habib Beye.
Beye has been appointed head coach just one week on from being sacked by Rennes.
While their season has been falling apart in recent weeks, Marseille remain in the Coupe de France and will face Toulouse in the quarter-finals at the beginning of next month.
This is something that McCourt wants Beye and the players to focus on in the short term, with the club languishing in fourth in Ligue 1.
His statement, released prior to Beye’s appointment, read: ‘As the owner of the club, I am coming to Marseille and once again taking on my responsibilities so that the club remains focused on its objectives, particularly qualification for the next Champions League and a strong run in the Coupe de France.
‘Under the supervision of Mehdi Benatia, the appointment of a new coach will be announced shortly. My ambition for the club remains intact. Let us mobilise in the service of OM.’