Xabi Alonso has impressively rewritten history, leading a relegation-threatened team to their first-ever German Bundesliga title in just 18 months since taking over.
Bayer Leverkusen’s 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen ended Bayern Munich’s reign and sealed the club’s long-awaited historic achievement.
Xabi Alonso; Bayer Leverkusen’s Missing Piece
Former Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Reiner Calmund once famously stated that without a title, a football club is worth nothing.
Leverkusen, known as ‘Vizekusen’ or ‘Neverkusen’ due to their numerous second-place finishes and lack of trophies, finally shed their bridesmaid reputation with this Bundesliga triumph.
Over the years, the club had come agonizingly close to glory, only to fall short, including a heartbreaking loss in 2000 when they failed to secure the title in the final game against SpVgg Unterhaching.
Bayer once again succumbed to pressure two years later, losing two of their last three games and relinquishing the league title to Borussia Dortmund.
Despite their impressive performance in the 2001-02 season, including a heartbreaking loss to Schalke in the DFB-Pokal final and defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final, Leverkusen finished as runners-up for the fifth time in the club’s history in 2010-11.
The ‘Neverkusen’ nickname continued to be associated with the club, reflecting their unfortunate tendency to fall just short of ultimate success.
In a recent interview with 11Freunde, former Chelsea star Ballack expressed his frustration, stating, “The quality has always been there, but something has always been missing.”
Meanwhile, that missing piece turned out to be Xabi Alonso, who led Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title with five games remaining.
Leverkusen’s 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen put them 16 points ahead of Bayern Munich, who had dominated the league with 11 consecutive titles.
This triumph marks Leverkusen’s first trophy since their German Cup win in 1993.
Remarkably, Alonso’s team is still unbeaten in every competition and is on track to make history by achieving a treble.
Leverkusen currently have a 2-0 lead over West Ham going into the second leg of the Europa League on Thursday, April 18 and they will also be facing Kaiserslautern in the German cup final.
Alonso’s Football Career and Achievements
Xabi Alonso is a retired Spanish professional footballer who is considered one of the best midfielders of his generation.
He was born on November 25, 1981, in Tolosa, Spain. Alonso started his career at Real Sociedad, where he made his senior debut in 1999. He went on to play for top clubs such as Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.
Alonso was known for his passing ability, vision, and tactical intelligence on the field. He was a key player for both club and country, winning numerous domestic and international titles throughout his career.
Xabi Alonso made a name for himself as a midfield enforcer, mainly in his time at Liverpool and Real Madrid.
He ended his career with 18 trophies to his name, which included one World Cup, two Champions Leagues, two European Championships, three German and one Spanish league titles, two UEFA Super Cups, one German Cup winners’ medal, one FA Cup, two Copas del Rey, one Spanish Super Cup, one German Super Cup and a Community Shield.
Xabi Alonso made a whopping 695 appearances throughout his career, which spanned across five professional clubs. He managed to accumulate 43 goals and 69 assists across his career.
Alonso retired from professional football in 2017 and has since transitioned into coaching. He is currently the head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, a team that has been labeled ‘unfortunate’ for their drought of trophies.
Alonso’s impact on the team has been widely recognized, and he is regarded as one of the best coaches in the world of football right now.
His coaching career
In 2018, Xabi Alonso completed his UEFA Elite coaching course with fellow former players Raúl, Xavi, Víctor Valdés, and Joan Capdevila. He then returned to Real Madrid to coach the U14s.
On June 1, 2019, Alonso was named manager of Real Sociedad B in Segunda División B before moving to Bayer Leverkusen on October 5, 2022.
Xabi Alonso has set things alight this season at Bayer Leverkusen. The German club are currently 30 games unbeaten in all competitions and are sitting pretty at the top of the Bundesliga table.
The Spaniard has been in charge of 67 games in Leverkusen, losing just 10 times, drawing 14 and winning 43.
Xabi Alonso’s contract details with Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso has an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen that allows him to leave for Liverpool, Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich.
The former Liverpool star signed a deal last summer that ties him to the German team until 2026, but he may be released early if Real Madrid, Liverpool, or Bayern Munich express interest in him, as reported by Bild.
The clause allowing the Spaniard’s departure has been made active since the beginning of 2024.
The charismatic football manager
On the day Xabi Alonso ended his playing career, his former boss Pep Guardiola praised him as one of the best midfielders he had ever seen.
Pep also confidently predicted that Alonso would thrive as a manager in the future.
Meanwhile, Alonso has not only met Guardiola’s expectations but exceeded them. Guardiola was left impressed by Alonso’s work at Leverkusen, reacting with a simple “Wow!” when asked about the Spaniard’s impact on the club.
Xabi Alonso is now currently the most sought-after coach in the world of football.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has praised Alonso as the standout among the next generation of tacticians and Liverpool wanted to hire him as his successor.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich have also shown interest in him to succeed Thomas Tuchel at the Allianz Arena.
Despite his decision to stay at BayArena for another season, Real Madrid may attempt to bring him back to Santiago Bernabeu next summer.
His personal life
Alonso is being regarded as a calm and peaceful person by his Liverpool teammates. The Spaniard tactician is wedded to Nagore Aranburu. There is a romantic tale between the two, beginning from when they first met during Alonso’s early days at Real Sociedad.
The couple have three children: a son born in 2008, and two daughters born in 2010 and 2013.
His salary
According to Bild, Xabi Alonso is now the second highest-paid coach in the Bundesliga after signing a contract extension with Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso reportedly receives up to €6 million annually, putting him behind only Thomas Tuchel of Bayern Munich in terms of coaching salaries in the league.
Alonso’s net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, the Bayer Leverkusen manager’s wealth is estimated to be approximately $20m (£15.9m).
Much of his fortune likely stems from his successful playing career, which saw him achieve numerous accolades with top clubs such as Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Real Madrid.
In addition to his earnings as a manager, his financial portfolio likely includes investments and other lucrative ventures, suggesting his actual net worth could surpass the reported amount.
‘Neverkusen’ no more
The nickname ‘Neverkusen’, which became synonymous with Bayer Leverkusen’s heartbreaking losses in 2002, has been redefined by Alonso’s triumph in winning the title over Bayern Munich.
His commitment to the club has breathed new life into their potential for continued success, despite interest from other clubs like Liverpool.
The impressive statistics from this season prove that their victory was no coincidence and presents a chance for further growth and success.
What’s next for Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen?
Bayer Leverkusen are outstandingly undefeated in all competitions and are poised to make history with a treble this season.
Alonso’s team currently holds a 2-0 advantage over West Ham heading into the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals which will come up on Thursday, April 18th.
