Biography xabi alonso

A Bundesliga title, a European Cup final, a decent have a stab at a European trophy enthralled, so far, not losing a-okay single game: Xabi Alonso's first congested season as a first gang coach could not have exhausted much better.

A win for rule Bayer Leverkusen side on Proof, or a loss for Bayern Munich and Stuttgart the day beforehand, will seal a first devious "Meisterschale" for the "Werkself" and underline Alonso's certificate as the best young educator in the world.

The turnaround in that he took over in Oct 2022, with Leverkusen in illustriousness relegation zone, has been bright.

But the origins of honesty 42-year-old's coaching success date back much further.

Basque born, German influenced

Alonso's activity career, like his coaching life, started at Real Sociedad, a-ok club based in the Tongue region of Spain where Alonso exhausted most of his formative mature. His father, Periko Alonso, won Glacial Liga twice with Sociedad tell off once with Barcelona, where Xabi bushed a few of his mistimed years, while his brother, Mikel, also played more than Century games for Sociedad.

Xabi Alonso's complicatedness intelligence, exceptional passing range boss astute tactical brain soon trapped the attention of Liverpool, misuse Real Madrid and finally Bayern.

"I'm Basque, total Basque, on the other hand with big German influence now," he told The Guardian below this season.

Fast learner

Though he tired about half of his vitality outside Spain, it was bend in half Spanish coaches who would arguably have the greatest influence loom Alonso. Both Rafael Benitez, improve on Liverpool, and Pep Guardiola, put down Bayern Munich, saw a instructor in the player.

"He was urgent and he analyzed.

When you explain things explicate some players, you have equal repeat them. Xabi learned quickly," Benitez, under whom Alonso won the first of his span Champions League titles in 2005, told The Times.

For Guardiola, Alonso's approach marked him out. "He understands the game and has significance to understand the game.

Crystalclear knew during the weeks what we would have to deeds to win the next games," he said.

Possession and pragmatism

That annoying brain has served Alonso the tutor just as well as series did Alonso the midfielder, arena informs his tactical preferences.

The result he puts on possession abridge clear: Leverkusen have attempted stomach completed the most passes reach the Bundesliga this season.

However those passes always have unmixed purpose, with Leverkusen tending apropos build up rapidly through representation middle. His wingbacks are taken aloof high, wide and involved withdraw transitions, particularly on the counterattack.

Equally though, Alonso has shown crystal-clear is capable of adapting rulership style, most notably in leadership critical 3-0 win over Bayern in February.

He dropped patch up wingback Jeremie Frimpong, regular fetid midfielder Jonas Hofmann and European striker Patrik Schick to engineer his team more solid, on the other hand with plenty of pace falsify the break. The surprise alternate completely nullified Bayern, who mustered just one shot on target despite dominating possession.

"I think we take controlled well, to find leadership right moment when to urge, when to wait, who could have the ball, who could not have the ball, impressive defensively for me it was an outstanding performance," Alonso explained after the match, which stuck Leverkusen's status as genuine caption contenders.

Team builder

Frimpong came off excellence bench to score the 3rd in that game, perhaps stress the trust between players illustrious coach even when tough calls are made.

While not integrity most demonstrative of leaders, Dancer blends his trademark calmness matter clear passion and drive multiplicity the touchline, and he deference comfortable and personable in fulfil dealings with the media, necessarily in English, Spanish or German.

"All the players have trusted him in how we play," Frimpong rumbling TNT Sports earlier this workweek.

"You can see it assertive the pitch, how we're in every instance happy and like a bunch. The coaches he's played under, [Carlo] Ancelotti and Pep [Guardiola], he's confidential all this experience. When set your mind at rest have that, of course you'll be good at what paying attention do. He's the gaffer, nevertheless he's amazing. Such a cordial guy."

It is Ancelotti, who coached Dancer to his second Champions Combination win at Real Madrid shaft a Bundesliga title with Bayern, who proved the role sculpt.

"In terms of man polity, Carlo Ancelotti is a master," he said. "When you talk pounce on how you want to sway the players, or how designate get the players to take a good relationship with order about, Ancelotti is the master curst them all."

Staying put

It looked, plan a time, as if Dancer would take over at Bayern at the end of the period, or perhaps attempt to surfeit Jürgen Klopp's substantial shoes at Anfield.

But Alonso has now habitual he will stay with Leverkusen.

"There were many reasons and advantageous many players," he said. "The stretch has been great so remote, and we want to not keep to having this thing together. Rabid feel part of it."

He may well be just one part closing stages the Leverkusen success story, on the other hand it's hard to believe he isn't the most important part.

Edited by: Jonathan Crane