Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso is a Spanish football manager and former professional player who is widely regarded as one of the finest deep-lying midfielders of his generation. As a player he won major honours at club level and was part of the dominant Spain national team, and he has since become a highly rated coach.

Early life

Xabier Alonso Olano was born on November 25, 1981, in Tolosa, in the Basque Country of Spain. He came from a footballing family; his father, Periko Alonso, was a notable player. Xabi developed in the youth system of Real Sociedad, the club where he would begin his senior career and establish himself as a promising young midfielder.

Career

Alonso emerged at Real Sociedad before moving to Liverpool in England, where he became a key figure in midfield. With Liverpool he won the UEFA Champions League, scoring in the dramatic comeback against Milan in the celebrated 2005 final, and he also won the FA Cup. He later joined Real Madrid, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League among other trophies, before finishing his playing career at Bayern Munich, where he added Bundesliga titles and domestic cups. At international level he was a mainstay of the Spain side that won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, one of the most successful national teams in history.

Renowned for his passing range, positional intelligence and composure, Alonso retired from playing in 2017 and moved into coaching. He began his managerial career in youth football and with Real Sociedad's reserve team, where he earned a strong reputation, before taking charge of a senior club. His measured tactical approach and clear identity as a coach quickly attracted attention from leading European clubs.

Recent work

Alonso took over as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen in Germany and led the club to a landmark Bundesliga title, the first in the club's history, completing the league season unbeaten and also winning the German Cup, an achievement that drew widespread acclaim and marked him as one of the most promising managers in European football. The success made him a leading candidate for major coaching positions. He subsequently was appointed manager of Real Madrid, returning to the club where he had enjoyed success as a player, and continuing a coaching career that has rapidly established him among the prominent figures in the modern game.