Cesc Fabregas fronts queue for Bayer Leverkusen job

Cesc Fabregas has reportedly emerged as the frontrunner for the vacant Bayer Leverkusen managerial role following Xabi Alonso's confirmed departure.

Alonso announced last week that he will leave the Bundesliga club upon conclusion of the current campaign and is poised to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.

A plethora of names have since been linked to the Leverkusen job and former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Fabregas is a hot topic.

The 38-year-old ventured into management with Italian side Como 1907 and orchestrated their return to Serie A after an absence of 21 years.

Fabregas has since solidified Como's status in Italy's top-flight as the club are perched in 10th. Fabregas was named Serie A Manager of the Month for April with Como finishing the season strongly off the back of six successive victories.

A report from Marca outlines Leverkusen's intent to prise Fabregas from Italy as he matches their criteria of a serial winner with an attack-minded philosophy, mirroring his potential predecessor Alonso.

Alonso's departure brings the curtain down an unprecedented period in Leverkusen's history after the Spaniard guided the Rhine-Ruhr outfit to a maiden Bundesliga title with an extraordinary unbeaten season.

Also claiming the DFB-Pokal last season, Bayer were 90 minutes away from securing a historic Treble only to suffer their first defeat of the campaign against Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League final.

Defending their Bundesliga crown against the might of Bayern Munich was always going to be a momentous task and Leverkusen unfortunately fell short as Vincent Kompany's men pulled clear in the closing stages to retrieve the Meisterschale.

Alonso's departure ultimately leaves a significant void in the Leverkusen technical area.

Winning 88 of his 139 matches in charge of the club, Alonso was recognised as 'Best Coach of the Year' by Globe Soccer in 2024.

If Fabregas is the man Leverkusen wish to pursue, his capture would likely require significant compensation as the Catalan is tied down on a long-term contract with Como until 2028.

Jaquob Crooke

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