Xabi Alonso has been coached by some of the managerial legends of modern-day football – Rafael Benitez, Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, and Jose Mourinho. It’s fair to say he’s learned from the best.
So while there’s no guarantee, despite his success as a player, that he’ll be a good manager, Alonso’s days spent imbibing knowledge from modern masters should serve him in good stead.
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich midfielder has taken just four months since his retirement to announce his intentions to become a manager, and there were already suggestions, however subdued, that he could come straight back to the club he departed in the summer.
The Bayern job is available following Carlo Ancelotti’s sacking last week but Jupp Heynckes is the favourite to return to the Bundesliga giants for another spell after signing off with a treble-winning season in 2013. Alonso however, has been tipped to find a place on the German’s coaching staff.
The Spaniard revealed that he spent his last couple of seasons as a player taking down notes and mentally planning training sessions, and also has a clear idea of what he thinks makes a good manager, citing communication as the key.
“The main quality of a manager is to be able to take the best out of each player,” Alonso said.
“If you are not able to deliver your passion, your idea, to the group to the players…you don’t have many chances to succeed.”
It shouldn’t be long before Alonso gets the chance to implement his vision soon.
