Xabi Alonso claims he is happy at Bayer Leverkusen and doesn't 'care' what his next step in management will be.
The Spaniard is the favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool after it was announced on Friday he would leave at the end of the season.
Alonso is widely regarded as a Liverpool legend after being part of the side that won the Champions League in 2005.
He spent five years as a player on Merseyside, also winning the FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup while making over 200 first-team appearances.
Xabi Alonso is not thinking about the possibility of managing Liverpool
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Alonso retired from playing in 2017 and has already shown signs of becoming a top manager at Bayer Leverkusen.
Leverkusen currently sit top of the German Bundesliga, four points clear of Bayern Munich in second place, as they search for their first top-flight title in 13 years.
Alonso was immediately installed as the favourite to replace Klopp following the news that he will be stepping down.
The 42-year-old paid tribute to the job Klopp has done since he replaced Brendan Rodgers in October 2015.
However, Alonso insists he is happy at Leverkusen and is determined to put his whole focus on achieving success with them.
He said: "First of all it was a surprise. I have huge respect for Jurgen, huge admiration, before coming to Liverpool and during his years there it has become even bigger and it has grown, for what he has achieved and the way he has achieved that.
"At the moment, I am really happy here, I am enjoying my work here. I am feeling that each day is a challenge, each game is a challenge. And we are in an intense but in a beautiful journey here in Leverkusen.
"I am trying to give my best to help my players be ready for the next thing and that's my goal. What will happen [in the future], I don't know."
Leverkusen is the first senior job Alonso has had after three years in charge of Real Sociedad B.
He is not thinking about his next move despite the potential lure of an emotional return to Anfield.
Alonso added: "To be honest I am not in that moment to think about the next thing. I’m thinking about where I am right now.
"And I think that I’m in a great place and I am enjoying it. And I think it’s the right place. That’s all I can say.
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Xabi Alonso is the favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool
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"I don’t know what my pace [of my career] is. My pace is what’s going to be the pace of the team on Saturday, to be honest, because that’s what really matters.
"What is going to happen in the future, I don’t know, and I don’t really care at the moment."
Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi and ex-Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane are also linked with the Liverpool job.
Klopp insists he will play no part in deciding who the next manager is, saying: "No, why should I?
"It looks like I do all the job; I don’t, I can’t and I don’t. That means all we built over the last eight-and-a-half years has an incredibly strong structure behind the scenes.
Jurgen Klopp announced on Friday he would be leaving Liverpool and Xabi Alonso could replace him
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"So everything goes in the right direction, so that’s the good news. That’s one of the reasons why I can leave, because my responsibility is so big, my idea was always to put everything in place and help with everything so this club gets stronger and stronger and stronger.
"We did that. To perfection? No. But as good as we could. That means so many people work here, and with only one idea: to find the perfect solution for Liverpool FC. I’m pretty sure that will happen.
"And the last thing they need is advice from the old man walking out, telling them ‘by the way, make sure you bring him in’. I will definitely not do that."
