WATCH: Jose Mourinho’s 5-year-old PREDICTION on why Xabi Alonso is destined to be the ‘best coach’

Alonso's Leverkusen are on top of the Bundesliga, unbeaten in all competitions.

WATCH: Jose Mourinho’s 5-year-old PREDICTION on why Xabi Alonso is destined to be the ‘best coach’

Jose Mourinho predicted that Xabi Alonso would go on to become a great manager. (Image via NY Times and X)

A video has surfaced on the internet showing Roma manager Jose Mourinho making a prediction five years ago about former Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso. In a 2019 interview with Top Eleven, Mourinho predicted that Alonso would succeed as a manager, something which came true later.

Jose Mourinho was the manager of Xabi Alonso during his tenure at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. Alonso, known for his successful playing career with two Champions League titles and triumphs in the World Cup and Euros with Spain, transitioned to coaching after retiring in 2017. He initially took charge of Real Madrid’s youth team before becoming the manager of Real Sociedad B, guiding them to promotion to the Spanish second division in his second year as a coach.

YouTube video

Xabi Alonso took over as the manager of Bayer Leverkusen in 2022, succeeding Gerardo Seoane after a disappointing season. Building on a stellar first season at the club, he has managed Leverkusen to the top of the Bundesliga table this season. Mourinho, in a 2019 interview on Top Eleven, had accurately predicted that Alonso would become a top manager.

FS Video

Moreover, he highlighted the similarity of the Spaniard’s upbringing to his own, being born to a father who was both a player and a manager, thus increasing his chances of being a great football coach.

Mourinho additionally mentioned that Alonso’s experience as a player, playing under top managers like Guardiola, Ancelotti, and Benitez would serve as an added advantage to his future. Xabi Alonso has been linked with a move to top clubs all around Europe like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Liverpool.

Xabi Alonso’s stint as a manager with high-flying Bundesliga table-toppers Bayer Leverkusen

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, currently at the helm of Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, has been the talk of the town. Serving as Die Werkself’s coach, he has guided them to the top of the German league table, maintaining an unbeaten record with 42 points from 16 matches.

Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso has guided Bayer Leverkusen to the top of the Bundesliga this season. (Image via Marca)

Bayer Leverkusen has emerged as a prominent team in European football, as the club remains a top contender for the Bundesliga title, hoping to break Bayern’s 11-year dominance. Under Alonso’s guidance, the club reached the Europa League semi-finals last season and secured a 6th-place finish despite a slow start.

This season has been different, with the team on top of the table, winning 13 matches and drawing just three. The Spaniard’s preferred 3–4–3 formation with an emphasis on passing and counter-attack has helped the club immensely. A potential Bundesliga title this season would mark a historic achievement for the club’s 119-year-old history

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