Xabi Alonso feels ready for his first big job as head coach. While the 40-year-old previously rejected other offers, the commitment to the troubled Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen now fits in perfectly with his plan.
“I’ve been waiting for the right moment and I feel like it’s the right moment. I have a lot of ambition and motivation to help the club,” said the former world-class Spanish player at his presentation. It is a great honor to work at such a big club. Leverkusen parted ways with previous coach Gerardo Seoane on Wednesday after the 2-0 defeat at FC Porto in the Champions League.
Rolfes: “Xabi was always our premium solution”
Alonso has little experience in coaching. The former midfielder last coached the second team of the Spanish first division club Real Sociedad San Sebastian for three years, before that he worked in the youth team of Real Madrid. “Experience isn’t more important than quality. Xabi has always been our premium solution. We’ve had a lot of talks and we both got the feeling that it fits together wonderfully,” said Leverkusen’s sporting director Simon Rolfes. Alonso stands for dominant and dynamic football, which “fits perfectly with our philosophy and style of play. He is a leader, a leader and has excellent references.”
Schalke first test for new coach
For Alonso, the first test is on Saturday against newly promoted FC Schalke 04. He also played his first game in the Bundesliga as a professional with FC Bayern Munich in 2014 against Schalke. Like back then, he hardly has time to get used to it. “Time is a luxury in football. We have a lot to do, I have to get to know the players and make a connection, find out what the mood is like,” said Alonso, who answered journalists’ questions in a mix of broken German and English. The quality of the team is great.
His goal: dominant, dynamic football. “We want to play modern football, intensively with and without the ball. And we need a great winning mentality,” said the Spanish world and European champions, who won the premier class with Liverpool and Real Madrid in 2005 and 2014. Alsonso also won numerous titles with Munich between 2014 and the end of his career in 2017. His contract in Leverkusen runs until June 30, 2024.
