Who Is Xabi Alonso?
Xabi Alonso is a former elite midfielder for Real Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and the Spanish national team, celebrated for his vision, passing range and leadership in midfield. As a player, he won major trophies including the FIFA World Cup, multiple European Championships with Spain, and the UEFA Champions League.
After retiring, Alonso moved into coaching within the Real Madrid academy before taking charge of Bayer Leverkusen, where he quickly emerged as one of Europe’s brightest young managers. His playing and coaching background made him a natural candidate when Real Madrid sought a new head coach to guide their next era.
Rise as a Coach at Bayer Leverkusen
Alonso took over Bayer Leverkusen when they were struggling near the bottom of the Bundesliga table and rapidly transformed them into title contenders. Under his leadership, Leverkusen won the Bundesliga for the first time in their history, added the DFB Cup, and went on an extraordinary unbeaten run that stretched across domestic and European competitions.
His Leverkusen teams were praised for their tactical flexibility, structured pressing and quick, incisive attacking play. Statistically, he left with the highest points-per-game and win percentage of any coach in the club’s history, plus a record-long unbeaten away streak, achievements that convinced Real Madrid to bring him back as head coach on a multi-year contract.
Pressure and Uncertainty at Real Madrid
Since returning to Real Madrid as head coach, Alonso has faced intense pressure amid inconsistent results and heightened expectations from fans and media. Reports in Spain have questioned his authority in the dressing room and suggested that key Champions League ties could be decisive for his future at the club, particularly high-profile clashes against teams like Manchester City.
Alonso has publicly rejected claims that he has lost the locker room, insisting that the squad remains united and that perspective is needed during difficult runs of form. How he navigates this scrutiny, manages star players, and adjusts tactically in upcoming domestic and European fixtures will be crucial in determining whether he consolidates his position or faces an early end to his tenure at the Bernabéu.