Bayer Leverkusen appoint Xabi Alonso as their new head coach. The Liverpool legend takes a first step into senior management.
Bayer Leverkusen announced on Wednesday that Xabi Alonso is their new manager. The Spaniard is taking his first senior role, after previously finding success with Real Sociedad’s B team.
Alonso knows German football inside out, of course. He spent many successful years with Bayern Munich, working under Pep Guardiola. The now-Manchester City boss is far from the only managerial great to teach Alonso, though.
The former midfielder worked with Rafa Benitez, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Vicente del Bosque – winning the game’s biggest trophies with all of them. Leverkusen will hope that some of that knowledge has rubbed off.
Bayer Leverkusen appoint Xabi Alonso
Alonso, of course, is a Liverpool legend having been one of the finest midfielders we’ve seen at the club. While he endured some poor form over his years on Merseyside, his peak was sensational to see.
And so it’s interesting to see his foray into management. Leverkusen are a massive team and one of the biggest and best in Germany. They’ll have eyes on Champions League football once again – and have some incredible players with which to achieve it.
Florian Wirtz, once he’s back from injury, is perhaps the star talent. Players like Moussa Diaby and Edmund Tapsoba have reached heights in recent yeas that suggest they could be special, too.
We’ll watch Alonso’s time closely, then. It’s always notable when a former player reaches a top managerial job, especially as Jurgen Klopp’s contract expires in 2026.
Liverpool actually have several members of that 2009 team making forays into management right now. Alonso, though, just landed the biggest job of them all. If he can nail it, there will be calls for at least an interview when Klopp inevitably steps down in a few years.
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