EXCLUSIVE: Xabi Alonso 'has everything' to be world's best manager - Leverkusen legend

Tom Weber

• Updated: 26 Apr 2024 05:22 CDT
• 4 min read

Exclusive

Ex-German international Jens Nowotny firmly believes that Xabi Alonso can become a coaching great.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder has enjoyed an eminently successful start to his coaching career. After being poached from Real Sociedad's reserves by Bayer Leverkusen, the Basque can now call himself a Bundesliga-winning head coach.

After getting the Werkself out of a relegation slog and into Europe last season, the 42-year-old comfortably beat a struggling Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title this term, the first-ever in Leverkusen's history. Bayer did so in style, too, becoming the joint third-fastest team to win a title after demolishing Werder Bremen a few weeks ago.

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Alonso's well-oiled machine claimed the championship with five games to spare and they are still yet to taste defeat this term, having also reached the final of the DFB-Pokal and the semis of the Europa League. The fact that Alonso's side play brilliant football and are seemingly unbeatable has, of course, attracted big-name attention.

His ex-clubs Liverpool and Bayern Munich were fighting it out over his signature until he came out publically and committed his future to Bayer for at least another season. Alonso is seeking to build a dynasty and he has everything required to achieve this.

Alonso tipped for coaching greatness

Speaking exclusively to FootballTransfers, former Bayer Leverkusen centre-back and German international Jens Nowotny shared his belief that Alonso is on the right path towards coaching greatness.

Asked whether the Basque could become one of the best coaches in Bundesliga history, Nowotny said: "Yes, absolutely. You saw how he celebrated this success with the team, with the fans, how involved he is. But he is also not afraid to make difficult decisions such as hooking [defender Odilon] Kossounou after 29 minutes in a very important game against West Ham."

"He has everything you need as a coach. He has a philosophy, he knows how to implement it and he has this authority when making decisions and also the farsightedness to guide a team through a full season. Right now, what he's doing is perfect."

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The key to Alonso's success this season is Leverkusen's midfield, according to Nowotny. The partnership of ex-Arsenal star Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich is the heartbeat of the side. "The duo of Andrich and Xhaka, to me, embodies exactly what Leverkusen have been this season. Those two have harmonised so perfectly."

"Even though Andrich was out of the side for a time, he was able to fight his way back into the team and then took the next step. They really are a duo that is not afraid to do the dirty work, Andrich perhaps more so than Xhaka. But Xhaka is doing an exceptional job at leading the team and I think this constellation with Andrich in particular is 100% ideal. They are the centrepiece of the success."