Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen is also counting on working with head coach Xabi Alonso in the long term.
The former world-class Spanish player has extended his contract, which runs until June 30, 2024, by two years ahead of the start of the new season. The club announced this. The 41-year-old was signed as the successor to Gerardo Seoane in October 2022 and led the club to sixth place in the league and to the semi-finals of the Europa League last season.
“Convinced of his competence”
“Xabi’s signing last October caused a lot of recognition, but also aroused skepticism. We were in a difficult situation and you saw Xabi as a world star, but also as an inexperienced coach who had never led a top team However, I was convinced of his competence from the start and Xabi was convinced of the quality of our team,” said sporting director Simon Rolfes.
With his successful work and acceptance in the team, Alonso has already achieved a lot under Bayer’s cross and has received interesting reinforcements for his team for the coming season in Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann and Alejandro Grimaldo. “The fact that we are convinced of the same idea and the same direction in terms of sporting orientation ensures a great deal of closeness and trust between those responsible for the club and me. This is a very good and relaxed working basis for day-to-day work,” said the Spaniard .
