Xabi Alonso wins big in first game in charge of Bayer Leverkusen

Xabi Alonso is off to a flying start as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen.  The former Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich star was named as the German club’s boss on Wednesday.  In his first match with the team, Leverkusen smashed Schalke 4-0.

Entering Saturday, Leverkusen only had one win in their eight Bundesliga fixtures.  Leverkusen has also had one of the leakiest defenses in the German league.  The club had allowed 16 goals in Bundesliga play at the time of Alonso’s appointment.  Former head coach Gerardo Seoane was dismissed following his team’s 2-0 defeat to Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday.  

Xabi Alonso wins at Bayer

Alonso previously spent the last three seasons in charge of Real Sociedad’s B squad.  The former Spain international led the team to Segunda Division promotion for the 2021/22 campaign.  It was the club’s first season in Spain’s second division since 1961-62.  

The legend was also previously linked with the Borussia Monchengladbach job in 2021.  Nevertheless, he decided to remain with Sociedad B for their season in the Segunda Division.

However, the team did not stay in the league for long.  Alonso’s squad was relegated after just one year in the division.  Soon after Sociedad B was dropped, the club announced that their coach would not return for the current campaign.

Alonso’s Leverkusen role is his first senior head coaching job.  Prior to the big win, the coach claimed that he wanted to bring back a winning mentality to the side.

“We want to play modern football,” said Alonso.  “That means: intensity with and without the ball, being active rather than passive and with a strong mentality.” 

“The team has to know how we want to play.  Dominant, intensive, controlled.  We have to regain the winning mentality – and that from the kick-off to the final whistle.”  

Leverkusen certainly displayed this type of play at the weekend.  Alonso’s next game will be a home Champions League match against Porto on Wednesday.

Photo credit: IMAGO / Team 2