Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he will remain in his role as Bayer Leverkusen manager next season amid interest from Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp is set to leave the Reds at the end of the season and the current Bayer Leverkusen head coach has been extensively linked to the role there.
But the Spaniard has affirmed his desire to remain with Bayer for another year at least.
"I am convinced it is the right decision, I am happy," said Alonso at a press conference.
"We have had a lot of speculation regarding my future," he said. "Until now we have had so many games, been pretty busy and focused, and I wanted to reflect during the international break and make a decision.
"The players gave me so many reasons to keep believing in the team - for their commitment, for their desire, for their hunger to have a great season. My job is not over here.
Leverkusen, who are quite remarkably unbeaten in all competitions this season, look set to win their first-ever Bundesliga title under Alonso, who is also seen as a candidate to take over at another of his old clubs Bayern Munich.
Thomas Tuchel will also leave at the end of the campaign and there are suggestions that the Bundesliga giants would like to have Alonso as their replacement.
The former Real Madrid man also admitted that he told Leverkusen's directors of his decision to stay at the club last week.
Alonso signed to Liverpool from Real Sociedad in 2004 and went on to play 210 games for the Reds.
In 2009, he moved to Real Madrid and then Bayern five years later before retiring. He has been linked with taking the jobs up at all his former clubs.
When asked about the interest, Alonso said: "It wouldn't be correct of me to talk about other clubs when they are in this situation. For sure there are clubs I have a strong link [as] I played there. So I respect them.
"[I have] the conviction I am in the right place at Bayer Leverkusen and I want to keep growing with the club, growing with the players.”
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