As a player, Xabi Alonso was recognized as one of the best midfielders in the world. He won many titles while playing for Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, notably winning the Champions League twice.
At the national team, he was part of the “golden generation” that brought Spain to the European championship in 2008, 2012 and the 2010 World Cup.
Becoming a coach, Xabi Alonso quickly made a big impression with his success with Bayer Leverkusen. Therefore, he has become the leading candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
So, what is special about this strategist’s career? Below is the information you need to know.
Xabi Alonso’s achievements and coaching career
Xabi Alonso began his coaching career in 2018 with Real Madrid’s youth team. After 1 season in Madrid, he moved to lead Real Sociedad B. After 3 years in this team, Alonso gradually built his coaching style, creating a stepping stone to step up to the professional level.
At the beginning of the 2022/23 season, he was appointed to the hot seat of Bayer Leverkusen, when this team was in 17th place on the rankings. Xabi brought unexpected results for this club when he finished in 6th place when the season ended and won tickets to attend the Europa League for the next season.
Last season, Leverkusen reached the semi-finals of the Europa League but ultimately lost narrowly in two matches to Roma led by Jose Mourinho. At the same time, there were rumors that Alonso received interest from Tottenham, before he signed a new contract with Leverkusen until 2026.
Currently, Xabi Alonso is having great achievements at Leverkusen: Topping the Bundesliga rankings after 22 rounds without losing a single match, 8 points ahead of defending champion Bayern Munich, reaching the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal, reaching the round of 16. in the UEFA Europa League with a record of winning 6 matches in the group stage.
Xabi Alonso’s coaching achievements
| Team | Year | Win | Draw | Lose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid (youth team) | 2018-2019 | – | – | – |
| Real Sociedad B | 2019-2022 | 40 | 23 | 35 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 2022- present | 45 | 14 | ten |
Xabi Alonso’s contract with Leverkusen
Leverkusen appointed Xabi Alonso to the position of head coach on October 5, 2022 with the first contract valid until June 30, 2024. Then, thanks to his unexpectedly good performance, he was rewarded by the team with a larger contract, valid until 2026.
This season, Leverkusen has the opportunity to win the treble of Bundesliga, Europa League and DFB-Pokal.
Will Xabi Alonso be coach of Liverpool or Bayern Munich?
With an impressive track record, it is not surprising that Xabi Alonso has become the target of many big teams.
On January 26, Jurgen Klopp shocked everyone when he confirmed that he would resign as Liverpool coach at the end of the 2023/24 season. The German strategist has brought much success to the Anfield team since taking office in October 2015. Therefore, whoever succeeds him will be under immense pressure.
According to Dailymail, Alonso is one of Liverpool’s top choices alongside Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi. On the other hand, the Red Brigade is facing a significant challenge when Bayern Munich is also targeting the Spanish strategist.
Worth mentioning, strong financial ability and modern facilities are the plus points of Bayern Munich. In addition, if he returns to England to lead Liverpool, Xabi Alonso will have to leave his family.
Xabi Alonso’s achievements and titles at Liverpool
Xabi Alonso played for Liverpool from 2004 to 2009. The Red Brigade recruited this midfielder for £ 16 million from Real Sociedad to pair with Steven Gerrard.
Alonso won four trophies during his time at Liverpool, including the Champions League in his first season on Merseyside.
| Season | Number of matches | Goal | Title number | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 210 | 19 | 4 | Champions League 2004/05, UEFA Super Cup 2005, FA Cup 2005/06, Community Shield 2006 |
Xabi Alonso’s achievements and titles at Bayern Munich
| Season | Number of matches | Goal | Brand number | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 117 | 9 | 6 | Bundesliga (2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17) DFB Pokal (2015/16) German Super Cup (2016/17) |
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