Xabi Alonso officially becomes Real coach: The reunion was planned for many years

A new era at Real has officially begun, with Xabi Alonso completing a three-year contract and being presented at 12.30pm on Monday (May 26) at Valdebebas. The 43-year-old will take charge of the team on June 1, then travel to the United States for the adventure in the FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament that promises to bring 100 million euros to the winner.

Entering a major tournament with so little time to prepare is a risky start. However, Alonso accepts the challenge. This reflects the character of the Spanish strategist. He is not afraid to venture into new lands and is never afraid of risks. And importantly, Alonso always knows exactly what to do to be ready for a journey.

Like in the summer of 2009, Alonso could have stayed at Liverpool. Instead, he moved to Real for €35 million, becoming part of a lavish transfer window at the Bernabeu that also included Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kaka.

The return of a legend, when Alonso had 5 brilliant years with 236 matches and 5 titles with Real.

It didn’t take long for Alonso to establish himself as a key player in Jose Mourinho’s side, much like he did in later years under Carlo Ancelotti. Not only did he demonstrate his mastery of skill and thought on the pitch, he also showed his depth behind the scenes.

During Mourinho’s time in charge of Real, many expressed their dissatisfaction with the negative style of play as well as the numerous scandals that he created. They believed that the Portuguese coach’s wildness went against the traditional values ​​of dignity and class of the Royal team. Veteran members of the dressing room, including Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos, created a rebellion against Mourinho.

Despite being Spanish, Alonso was not one of them. On the contrary, he was always a loyal soldier of Mourinho. "As a professional player, I learned a lot from him," Alonso told ETB in 2012, when tensions were at their peak. "Mourinho is very demanding and meticulous about every detail. People only know the face he shows. I know the other side of him."

President Floretino Perez has always respected and had a good relationship with Alonso.

It is not certain whether President Florentino Perez sees the lovable side of Mourinho like Alonso, but he likes the way the Portuguese coach defends the club. Perez himself has always done the same, for the benefit of Real ready to create a war with the media, La Liga, UEFA and even the Ballon d'Or Organizing Committee.

So in early 2019, when Real were in crisis under Julen Lopetegui and then Santiago Solari, Perez envisioned a “dream duo” on the coaching bench, with Mourinho as head coach and Alonso as assistant. That scenario did not happen, and Zinedine Zidane was chosen. However, this detail shows that Perez always valued Alonso, both as a person and as a leader.

That's why the Real president agreed to let Alonso leave Real in the fall of 2015 to join Bayern. Ancelotti said "the president decided", and Perez simply followed Alonso's request. As for Alonso, he said that in life, "you should know when to say goodbye and start a new cycle".

Alonso is always well prepared and has a detailed plan for the future.

Looking back at Alonso’s career, it’s easy to see that he always knows when to stop, and when to move on. In 2017, although he was still capable of continuing to play at the top level, especially with his head-based style rather than his strength, Alonso announced his retirement, then returned to Real to take charge of the youth team (U14). Then a year later, despite Perez’s interest in the U18 coach position, he left, becoming the coach of Real Sociedad B.

In the context of many former teammates quickly finding coaching jobs at big teams, and himself receiving many attractive offers, Alonso surprised everyone by joining Bayer Leverkusen. Once again, this decision showed the vision of the 2010 world champion. Instead of rushing to follow temptation, he patiently accumulated more experience and honed his ideas at mid-level teams. The youth teams of Real, Real Sociedad B and Leverkusen were places with less pressure and room for error.

When it came time to reap success, taking Leverkusen to the heights the club had dreamed of for 120 years, Alonso remained calm. Bayern and Liverpool came calling, then Real, but the Spaniard felt it was not the right time for a big step. He continued to stick with Leverkusen and waited until this summer to accept Perez's offer.

What will happen next for Alonso and Real? It is difficult to say. But with a coach who is smart and always prepares carefully for every step of his career, the future is always promising, and there is a certain certainty.

Thanh Hai

Source: https://tienphong.vn/xabi-alonso-chinh-thuc-tro-thanh-hlv-real-cuoc-tai-ngo-duoc-len-ke-hoach-tu-nhieu-nam-post1745447.tpo