MY ACCOUNT
Xabi Alonso has been touted as a surprise contender to replace David Moyes at West Ham this summer.
The popular former Liverpool midfielder has been excelling in charge of Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen and reports this week have suggested he is highly thought of by Hammers chiefs.
As the East Londoners prepare to host the Reds this evening, we look at Alonso’s managerial career to date and consider what he could bring to the London Stadium.
Pep’s proteges
Like Mikel Arteta and Vincent Kompany, Alonso is another emerging coach at the top of European football who has benefitted from time working under the great Pep Guardiola.
Alonso, 41, left Real Madrid for Bayern Munich in 2014, spending two of the last three years of his playing career learning from his esteemed countryman.
And when the World Cup winner took the Leverkusen job last October, his old mentor was one of the first to offer a ringing endorsement.
Guardiola said: “Xabi was an exceptional holding midfielder and when you are an exceptional holding midfielder you have to understand the game.
“He reads it perfectly and he’s a lovely, lovely person. It’s an incredible opportunity.
“It’s a really good team in the Bundesliga — prestigious, still playing Champions League. I wish him the best and hopefully he can do the job.”
Like father, like son
It would be too simplistic to say that Guardiola has single-handedly shaped Alonso’s coaching philosophy, however.
His first idol was his father, Periko Alonso.
A regular for Real Sociedad, Barcelona and Spain, Alonso Senior admits to have taken more satisfaction from perfect passing than fantastic finishing during his playing days.
That philosophy visibly fed into his son’s game and even now, the Basque tactician still values ball movement as a key factor within his coaching methodology.
Since arriving at the BayArena, only Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have completed more passes per game in the Bundesliga.
Interestingly though, Leverkusen rank only eighth for average possession percentage in the division — suggesting when they do have the ball, they pass quickly and with a purpose.
High five
Alonso has made sweeping changes since taking his first senior role, all of which have combined to make a stunning impact.
First, he ditched the back four used by his predecessor Gerardo Seoane, generally opting to line Leverkusen up in a 5-2-3 shape with attacking wing-backs and two No10s in a three-man front line.
Wide players are tasked with stretching the game to open up space for those in central areas, who have the freedom to make aggressive runs and thread clever passes into pacey forwards.
Off the ball, the Spaniard asks his side to press — but not too aggressively.
While his men rank a lowly 18th in terms of possessions won in the attacking third during Alonso’s reign, their 636 regains in the defensive third is the Bundesliga’s highest tally.
It is from that deeper position where Leverkusen so often ruthlessly exploit their opposition on the break.
Stunning results
Few rookie bosses have made such an impressive impact in their first senior managerial role.
Alonso took over a side flirting with the relegation zone. Since November, they have won 12 out of 17 league outings and sit just six points off a Champions League qualification spot.
Furthermore, Leverkusen take on Roma in the Europa League semi-finals next month, with a genuine chance of securing only a second continental crown in the club’s history.
If West Ham genuinely intend to lure Alonso to East London this summer, they must move quickly.
Judging on this campaign, Europe’s very biggest clubs will soon come calling.
