HONED FOR COACHING
World Soccer|September 2023
After playing under some of the finest managers of the last 20 years, Xabi Alonso is equipped to succeed as a coach
Nick Bidwell
HONED FOR COACHING

Could Xabi Alonso, so impressive as a rookie coach at Bayer Leverkusen last term, be set for a coaching career at the very top of the game?

Certainly Bayern Munich, one of his former clubs, would be interested. When Alonso strutted his stuff for the Bavarians in the final act (2014-17) of a magnificent playing career, the suits at the Allianz Arena often went out of their way to sing the praises of the Basque midfield traffic cop, commending him for his leadership qualities, tactical awareness and consummate ability to pull the strings in the middle of the park. Whether hinted at or bluntly on the record, the word from the Bayern boardroom was that they held Alonso's football IQ in the highest regard and would dearly love to employ him as a coach one day.

"He's the best central midfielder we've had in recent years," said the thenBayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in an interview with Kicker magazine in April 2019. "He wasn't the quickest, but of all the players I've ever seen in our midfield, he was the most intelligent and the best strategically. He was a wonderful player, who could speak four languages, including German. He was a real personality. He's someone I'd like to see back at Bayern as a coach. He's now in Spain learning his coaching trade. My opinion is that we must make an effort to bring him back to Bayern at some point".

Some four years later, Rummenigge's effusive appraisal is now common currency in the corridors of power of many top European sides, particularly those others that he served with such distinction as a player: Real Sociedad, Liverpool and Real Madrid. If any of them were already considering Alonso as a manager for the future, then their interest would have certainly been piqued by his exceptional work as a lifesaver at Leverkusen in 2022-23, his first senior coaching job.

この記事は World Soccer の September 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は World Soccer の September 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

WORLD SOCCERのその他の記事すべて表示
Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
World Soccer

Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer

There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer

time-read
5 分  |
July 2024
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
World Soccer

Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer

The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role

time-read
4 分  |
July 2024
Inter cruise to title number 20
World Soccer

Inter cruise to title number 20

Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals

time-read
3 分  |
July 2024
HAT-TRICK HERO
World Soccer

HAT-TRICK HERO

Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final

time-read
6 分  |
July 2024
GOING UP
World Soccer

GOING UP

The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar

time-read
6 分  |
July 2024
Palau soldier on alone
World Soccer

Palau soldier on alone

The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island

time-read
2 分  |
July 2024
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
World Soccer

Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six

As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely

time-read
3 分  |
July 2024
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
World Soccer

AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown

The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner

time-read
3 分  |
July 2024
Disasters brewing
World Soccer

Disasters brewing

There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage

time-read
3 分  |
July 2024
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
World Soccer

Second round of World Cup qualifying underway

Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines

time-read
3 分  |
July 2024