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 professional on Thursday at his presentation. It is a great honor to work at such a big club.
Alonso takes over for the dismissed Gerardo Seoane and should quickly get the Champions League participant, who has slipped down to 17th place, back on the road to success. When asked whether he also reckoned with the possibility of getting into the relegation battle with Bayer, this German term had to be translated for him.
Alonso wants to create a winning mentality
Even if there was no concrete answer, it is clear that both the club and the coach are pursuing different goals. The most important thing is that the players trust him and follow him. Creating new energy in the players, strengthening their belief in themselves, generating a lot of fun in football – these are the priority tasks.
The players should know that you can help them with your experience. The Bayer game should be dominant, controlled and intense. With clear information he wants to convey his strategy to the team and create a new, great winning mentality.
First task again against Schalke
For Alonso, whose contract in Leverkusen runs until June 30, 2024, the first test is on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) 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 the journalists’ questions in a mix of broken German and English. The quality of the team is great.
Rolfes: “I’m convinced of the opportunity”
The Spanish world and European champion has little experience in the coaching field. 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.
But sporting director Simon Rolfes sees little risk in the lack of experience of 40-year-old Alonso as head coach of a professional team: “Every decision has a risk and an opportunity. I’m convinced of the opportunity,” said Rolfes. It’s not about experience, it’s about quality. Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann was clear when he started. “Everyone knows his career. You can see and hear that everyone thinks he’s capable of a great career as a coach.”
Boateng: “Has everything a coach needs”
One of them is Rio World Champion Jerome Boateng. He trusts his former Bayern teammate Xabi Alonso to successfully deal with the crisis at Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. “In my opinion, he has everything a coach needs. He is very ambitious and loves football,” said the Olympique Lyon defender in an interview with “Sport1” on Thursday. The former Munich midfield star is “a great person” and “a real winner”.
Alonso won the premier class with Liverpool and Real Madrid in 2005 and 2014. With Spain’s national team, he triumphed in 2008 and 2012 at the European Championships, and in 2010 he was crowned world champion with the Iberians in South Africa. As a coach, Alonso last worked for the second team of the Spanish first division club Real Sociedad San Sebastian for three years.
Rolfes: “Change of coach absolutely necessary”
Leverkusen lost 2-0 in Porto on Tuesday evening. The start of the season in the Bundesliga had already gone badly before that: the Werkself only won one of eight games there. In addition, the club was knocked out of the DFB Cup by third division club SV Elversberg.
“Unfortunately, we have strayed from the road to success. The early exit from the DFB Cup, but in particular the current Bundesliga placement, which is far below our expectations, made the change of coach absolutely necessary from our point of view,” said sporting director Simon Rolfes, explaining the step.
