Mourinho Was Right About Xabi Alonso… But Nobody Believed Him

Summary

Javi Alonso's meteoric rise as a manager has been defined by his tactical brilliance and the influence of legendary coaches like Guardiola, Ancelotti, and Mourinho. After transforming Bayer Leverkusen from relegation fighters to Bundesliga champions, Alonso now leads Real Madrid, instilling discipline, fluidity, and a team-first mentality. His approach blends control, intensity, and verticality, creating a side that dominates both defensively and offensively. Under his guidance, players like Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. have flourished, while the team's tactical flexibility and pressing game have rejuvenated Madrid's quest for dominance in European football.

Takeaways

• 😀 Coaching is often an unexpected path in football, with many players never planning to become coaches, yet many eventually do.
• 😀 Xabi Alonso's background, shaped by his father, a former manager, and his experiences with top managers like Guardiola, Mourinho, and Ancelotti, laid the foundation for his successful coaching career.
• 😀 Xabi Alonso has turned Bayer Leverkusen from relegation candidates into Bundesliga champions, achieving an unbeaten season in 2023/24 and winning the DFB Pokal.
• 😀 The tactical transformation under Alonso at Leverkusen was revolutionary, with a high-pressing, dynamic, and vertically aggressive style of play.
• 😀 Xabi Alonso has implemented a flexible, adaptable system at Real Madrid, focused on pressing, verticality, and attacking football, while maintaining defensive solidity.
• 😀 Alonso's success comes from blending tactical influences from three legends: Guardiola's anticipation and control, Ancelotti's calm and simplicity, and Mourinho's competitive edge.
• 😀 Xabi Alonso has quickly stamped his authority at Real Madrid, demanding unity, discipline, and commitment, reshaping the squad's mentality.
• 😀 The 'Triangle of Death' in Real Madrid's midfield (Arda Gula, Aurelien Tchouaméni, and Federico Valverde) is crucial to Alonso's style, providing both control and dynamism.
• 😀 Real Madrid's tactical flexibility has allowed players like Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior to thrive, with Mbappé emerging as a key leader on and off the field.
• 😀 Alonso's managerial philosophy focuses on creating a cohesive unit where the team always comes first, demanding hard work, discipline, and the collective over individualism.

Q & A

Why do many football players initially not want to become coaches?

Many football players don't initially aspire to be coaches because coaching is not something they actively choose during their playing careers. They often don't envision it for themselves, and it is usually an unexpected turn of events. However, the importance of education, such as coaching badges, is emphasized, as it prepares them for the possibility of coaching in the future.

How did Xabi Alonso's background contribute to his success as a coach?

Xabi Alonso's background played a crucial role in shaping his success as a coach. He grew up surrounded by football due to his father's career as a manager. His extensive playing career, including playing in Spain, England, and Germany, and being coached by renowned managers like Guardiola, Ancelotti, and Mourinho, provided him with a wide range of footballing philosophies and tactics. This blend of experiences helped him develop a unique coaching style.

What was Xabi Alonso's most notable achievement at Bayer Leverkusen?

Xabi Alonso's most notable achievement at Bayer Leverkusen was leading the team to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 season. This victory was historic as it marked the club's first Bundesliga championship, and Alonso's team dominated the league, making an impressive 51 consecutive games unbeaten. He also won the DFB Pokal, completing a domestic double.

Why is Xabi Alonso's tactical approach at Real Madrid considered revolutionary?

Xabi Alonso's tactical approach at Real Madrid is considered revolutionary because of his emphasis on creating a balanced, high-intensity style of play that blends possession with verticality. His teams press aggressively, recover the ball quickly, and break lines with purposeful passes. He adapts his systems to different match situations, making his approach both flexible and dynamic, ensuring Real Madrid becomes unpredictable and more tactically sophisticated.

How has Xabi Alonso managed to bring the best out of players like Mbappé and Vinicius Jr.?

Xabi Alonso has brought the best out of players like Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. by emphasizing the importance of collective work and discipline. He made it clear that individual brilliance must align with the team's tactical demands. Mbappé has flourished under Alonso's trust, becoming one of the best players in the world, while Vinicius Jr. has had to adapt to a more team-oriented role, with Alonso demanding consistent work ethic, pressing, and sacrifices for the team.

What key qualities make Xabi Alonso's footballing philosophy stand out?

Xabi Alonso's footballing philosophy stands out because it combines tactical flexibility with a clear identity. His teams play with intense pressing, vertical passing, and high intensity, but they also maintain a disciplined structure. Alonso blends elements of various managerial influences, including Guardiola's anticipation, Ancelotti's calmness, and Mourinho's competitive edge, creating a system that is both beautiful and highly effective.

What role did Xabi Alonso’s tactical adaptability play in his success at Bayer Leverkusen?

Xabi Alonso's tactical adaptability was key to his success at Bayer Leverkusen. He used a flexible 3-4-3 formation that morphed into different shapes depending on the situation. In defense, it became a 4-4-2, ensuring balance and solidity. In attack, it allowed for fluid movement, with wing-backs pushing forward and midfielders controlling tempo. His ability to adjust tactics to suit the needs of each game allowed Leverkusen to dominate and achieve historical success.

How has Alonso’s coaching style influenced Real Madrid’s defensive structure?

Xabi Alonso has introduced a solid defensive structure at Real Madrid, much like he did at Bayer Leverkusen. He has emphasized reliability at the back, with experienced defenders like Antonio Rudiger and the presence of a top goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois. His defensive setup often uses a three-center-back formation, which provides both physicality and intelligence, ensuring that the team remains solid while still being dynamic in attack.

What impact did Xabi Alonso's work at Leverkusen have on Real Madrid’s expectations for him?

Xabi Alonso’s success at Bayer Leverkusen raised Real Madrid's expectations for him significantly. His ability to transform a relegation-threatened team into Bundesliga champions in just two and a half years caught the attention of top football clubs. Real Madrid saw in Alonso a manager capable of building a tactical empire, and his track record made him the ideal candidate to take over and rebuild the club's identity, pushing for major silverware.

What does the success of Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid indicate about the future of football management?

Xabi Alonso’s success at Real Madrid signals a shift toward a new generation of managers who are not only former players but also tactical innovators. His rise shows that coaching success is not just about inheriting a team of stars but about instilling discipline, a clear tactical identity, and an understanding of the game's evolving demands. Alonso’s ability to blend modern tactical ideas with traditional football principles could inspire future managers to embrace a more adaptable, player-centric approach to leadership.