Xabi Alonso has been named as the next head coach of Bayer Leverkusen after the Bundesliga side sacked Gerardo Seoane and Tuchel turned down the offer.
The move was announced following Bayer’s Champions League loss to FC Porto in the middle of the week. The team’s troubles in Europe were compounded by their mediocre performance in the Bundesliga, where they currently sit in the bottom three after eight games.
After Thomas Tuchel was fired from Chelsea last month, according to a report from the German media outlet Sport 1, Leverkusen reportedly made an attempt to hire him. However, this approach was reportedly turned down, and Bayer then turned to Alonso.
After three years as the head coach of Real Sociedad’s B squad in Spain, Alonso is now preparing for his first significant coaching position.
The former center midfielder, who is well-liked in the coaching community, led the team to promotion to the second division of Spanish football in his second season but departed his position at the conclusion of the last campaign when the squad was demoted.
With 117 first-team appearances between 2014 and 2017, Alonso spent the final three years of his playing career in Germany with Bayern Munich, enabling the team to win three straight Bundesliga championships.
Alonso made the following statement on the Bayer website: “I know Leverkusen from my time in Germany as an excellent club. Bayer 04 have always had great players, so I see a lot of quality in the current squad.”
“In my discussions with the club, it quickly became clear that, despite the current difficult situation, ambitious goals are still being pursued in principle. This task appeals to me very much and I am sure that we will live up to the claim.”
The former central midfielder earned the necessary coaching badges in 2018 and was subsequently hired as coach of the Real Madrid Under-14 team. The following year, he moved on to accept the post as coach of Real Sociedad’s B team.
Bayer’s sporting director Simon Rolfes added: “In Xabi Alonso, we have signed a coach who, as a player, was an absolute world-class professional for many years, an intelligent strategist and extremely successful in three of the most demanding European leagues.”
Xabi Alonso
Xabier Alonso Olano, a Spanish football coach and former professional player, was born on November 25, 1981. He now serves as the head coach of Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen.
Alonso started his professional career with Real Sociedad, the dominant team in his native Gipuzkoa. He spent a brief time on loan at Eibar before being named Real Sociedad’s team captain by the club’s then-manager John Toshack.
In the 2002–03 season, he was a success in the position and led the team to second place.
Under manager Rafael Bentez, he won the UEFA Champions League in his debut season at Liverpool, scoring the equalizing goal in the Final against Milan. He joined the club in August 2004 for £10.5 million.
He won the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield the following year.
Alonso’s Wife
Nagore Aranburu is a well-known entrepreneur who is well known for being Xabi Alonso’s wife.
On June 15, 1981, Nagore was born in Tolosa, Spain. She has always kept her parents’ internet identities a well guarded secret.
In San Sebastian, Nagore owns and operates a profitable children’s clothes business.
The children of Xabier Alonso and Nagore Aranburu are named Jontxu, Ane, and Emma.
When she gave birth, Alonso stayed in Merseyside to be by her side. He subsequently said: “It was a little frustrating to miss the match against Inter but I have to be with my family at times like these.”
He had a lot of conflict with his former manager Rafael Benitez because he chose to prioritize his family above a Champions League match.
Why Xabi Alonso left Liverpool
Because he insisted on being present for the birth of his son Jon, Xabi Alonso left Liverpool on a negative note.
Alonso was sold by the Reds to Real Madrid in 2009 for $30 million.
His five-year stint, during which he won the Champions League in 2005, was overshadowed by rumors of a behind-the-scenes brawl at Anfield.
According to Alonso, 35, the call was for a Champions League quarterfinal matchup versus Inter.
“We were in labour, and I told Rafa that I could not go like this. I would go when everything was fine, take a plane and introduce me there.”
As Liverpool’s manager from 2004 to 2010, Benitez was unable to attend his father’s funeral due to the Reds’ participation in the 2005 Club World Championship in Japan.
