Will Fàbregas be 'Xabi Alonso 2.0'?

Cesc Fabregas is making waves in Europe.

When the final whistle blows at the end of the 2024/25 season, Xabi Alonso will have concluded his extraordinary journey at the BayArena – and will likely be heading to Real Madrid’s Bernabeu. While Leverkusen fans are left reeling, the club’s board have identified a successor – a name that has surprised many: Cesc Fàbregas.

This choice not only reflects Leverkusen's long-term strategy but also reveals a trend that is reshaping the European coaching map: putting faith in young managers with innovative thinking, instead of veterans with proven success formulas.

Unconventional choice or natural inheritance?

The move to sign Fàbregas – who had only two years of coaching experience at a small club like Como – was a bold one for Leverkusen, but a deeper look into the nature of the decision reveals a clear logic: the DNA of attacking football, the philosophy of control, and the ability to develop young talent – ​​all elements that Xabi Alonso had established here.

The common denominator between the two Spanish strategists is not difficult to recognize: both are world- class midfielders with outstanding tactical vision. Both have experienced the highest football environments, both started their coaching careers from not-so-famous teams.

Will Fabregas replace Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen?

However, Fàbregas is not simply a "version 2.0" of Alonso. If Alonso brings stability and balance, Fàbregas shows boldness and breakthrough in attacking plans. If Alonso is a symbol of calmness and patience, Fàbregas represents a passionate and fast-paced style of play.

In his two years in charge at Como, Fàbregas has worked wonders. He has brought the small club back to Serie A after more than two decades. More impressively, the former Arsenal and Barcelona star has not only helped the team gain promotion, but has also established an attractive system of play, a modern style of football that one would not expect to see at a club as modest in resources as Como.

A run of four consecutive victories against the likes of Monza, Torino, Lecce and Genoa is more than just an achievement, it is a testament to Fàbregas’s tactical adaptability and mental leadership. The style of play he built at Como – with full-backs joining the attack as wingers, with pressing pressure as soon as the ball is lost, with flexibility in switching formations – is all the same elements that Leverkusen are pursuing.

Double challenge - leave "home" and enter the "arena"

What makes this deal complicated is not just the coaching ability. Fàbregas is not just the coach of Como, he is also a shareholder, someone with a deep emotional connection to the project. Como is not only the launching pad for Fàbregas’ coaching career, but also the place where the former Spanish player has put his trust and dedication.

"When there is no more desire, it means that I or the players should leave" - ​​Fàbregas's saying reflects his philosophy of life and work. And now, the question is: is the desire to conquer new heights at Leverkusen big enough to convince him to leave his "home" Como?

Replacing Xabi Alonso is not an easy task for the successor.

If Fàbregas accepts the challenge, he will face enormous pressure: inheriting a Leverkusen side that is at the peak of its success. Not only that, Fàbregas will have to prove that he is not only a talented coach in a "moderate" environment like Como, but also that he can lead a club to compete for the Champions League title.

Leverkusen is not Bayern Munich or Dortmund with the pressure of immediate victory. This is the ideal environment for young strategists who want to experiment, innovate and develop. Xabi Alonso is the most vivid proof: from a coach with little success to a hero of the city and a name sought after by European giants.

For Fàbregas, this could be the perfect stepping stone to top clubs like Barcelona or Arsenal - where he spent his playing career. And for Leverkusen, Fàbregas could be the perfect piece to continue the attacking football philosophy they are building.

Football has always been a story of succession and change. Pep Guardiola took over at Barcelona after Frank Rijkaard, Jurgen Klopp took over at Liverpool after Brendan Rodgers. And now the opportunity is opening up for Cesc Fàbregas to write his own story at Leverkusen.

Is this the turning point in Fàbregas' coaching career? Does he have the courage to overcome the shadow of his predecessor Alonso? And can Leverkusen continue to challenge Bayern Munich under Fàbregas?

These questions remain unanswered. But one thing is certain: if the deal goes through, it will not only reshape the future of Leverkusen and Fàbregas, but also usher in a new era for young strategists - those who dare to think, dare to do and dare to challenge the long-established order of European coaching.

Source: https://znews.vn/fabregas-se-la-xabi-alonso-20-post1552216.html