Xabi Alonso seen as potential candidate to become new Spurs Head Coach

Bayer Leverkusen Head Coach Xabi Alonso has been tipped to take over at Spurs with the Spaniard impressing at the German club

Since the departure of Antonio Conte, Spurs have been looking at candidates across the UK and Europe in search of his replacement. Names that have been linked with the club include ex-Bayern and Hoffenheim Head Coach Julian Nagelsmann, Feyenoord Head Coach Arne Slot and Burnley boss Vincent Kompany.

However, the latest name to be linked with the Tottenham job is ex-Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso, who is currently Head Coach of German club Bayer Leverkusen of the Bundesliga.

Before Alonso went into management, he had a glittering playing career which spanned across 18 years. The 41 year old Spaniard joined Real Sociedad’s reserve team in 1999 before being promoted to the Txuri-Urdinak (The White and Blues) first team a year later in 2000. His debut for the club came at the age of just 18 in December 1999, and the midfielder did not look back.

After making no less than 114 appearances for Sociedad, Alonso joined Liverpool in 2004, for a reported fee of €16m (£14m). Alonso had a successful spell at the Reds, winning the FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup (2005) and of course the Champions League (2005) where they beat Italian Giants AC Milan on a historic night in Istanbul.

With 143 appearances for Liverpool under his belt, Alonso decided to return to Spanish Football with Real Madrid, joining Los Blancos for a reported fee of €34.5m (£30m) on 5^th August 2009.

Success certainly did not stop. Alonso won 6 trophies, including a LaLiga title (2012), 2 Copas Del Rey (2011 & 2014) and the Champions League (2014). The European Cup win was perhaps the most significant, as it sealed La Decima for Real Madrid. ‘La Decima’ is in reference to the fact that this was the club’s 10^th Champions League title.

During his time with Los Blancos, he won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 Euros with Spain. He had won the Euros before in 2008, during his time with Liverpool.

After winning the Champions League title, Alonso departed the club, this time to Germany with Bayern Munich for €10m (£8m). Following his debut in a 1-1 Bundesliga draw against Schalke, the Spaniard made 79 appearances, scoring 5 goals. Trophies were a regular occurrence once more for the midfielder whilst he was at Bayern.

A 4-1 Bundesliga win against SC Freiburg on 20^th May 2017 was his final match as a professional footballer alongside other legend of the game, fellow midfielder Philip Lahm.

Two years after retirement, Alonso went into coaching starting back at Real Sociedad’s reserve team, starting on 9^th July 2019. He led his team to promotion in his second season in charge after beating Algeciras in the playoffs. This promotion meant that the reserve team would be in the Segunda Division (Spanish Second Tier) for the first time since the 1961/62 season.

Alonso’s team did get relegated the following season, but having impressed in his first Head Coaching role, Bayer Leverkusen appointed the Spaniard on 5^th October 2022.

Since joining Die Werkself, the club have risen rapidly up the Bundesliga table after 7 successive victories. Alonso’s Leverkusen are currently sat 6^th in the table on 48 points, which would secure them European Football.

Alonso has had 31 matches in charge of Leverkusen preferring a 3-4-3 formation, winning 17 of his games, drawing 7 and losing 7. He is currently contracted until Jun 30th 2024

It will be interesting to see who Tottenham choose to become Antonio Conte’s successor and Alonso seems like a worthy candidate after his impressive coaching career to date.

Spurs have a home game against Crystal Palace (6^th May), with Brentford being the last home match of the season on 20^th May. A trip to Villa Park to Aston Villa (13^th May) is set to take place between these two games.

There is no better way to support Spurs’ challenge for European football than with one of Eventmasters’ VIP Tottenham Hotspur Hospitality Packages.

Our Spurs tickets and hospitality packages are available for all upcoming Spurs home matches at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this 2023/24 Premier League season.
To purchase, click on the relevant link below.

Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest ticket information and sign up for our regular Spurs Newsletter for all things Tottenham Hotspur!