AN amazing photo of young Mikel Arteta with Premier League legend Xabi Alonso has gone viral.
Real Madrid could make a move for the Bayer Leverkusen coach to replace Carlos Ancelotti at the end of the season.
A viral photo shows both Spaniards Arteta, 41, and Alonso, 42, as kids when they played for San Sebastian side Antiguoko before they went their separate ways to pursue their senior careers.
The pair then met again in 2005 when Arteta joined the Premier League for Everton while Alonso was already in Merseyside at Liverpool.
Arteta then left the Toffees for Arsenal in 2011 where played until 2016 before he became the head coach in 2019.
Meanwhile, Alonso departed Anfield in 2009 and headed to the Spanish capital.
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The Liverpool legend then spent six seasons at the Bernabeu as a player, winning La Liga in 2012 and then the Champions League two years later during Ancelotti’s first spell at the club.
After three seasons at Bayern Munich, the 2010 World Cup winner retired and managed Real’s youth team, before taking over Real Sociedad’s B squad.
In 2022 Alonso became the first-team manager for Leverkusen where he has since caught the eye of Los Blancos, who are keen to appoint him as Ancelotti’s successor next term.
When he arrived in October last year, Alonso replaced Gerardo Seoane and the club was second from bottom after eight Bundesliga games.
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The Spaniard turned things around leading Leverkusen to finish sixth in the league and to the semi-finals of the Europa League.
This season he has dominated the league as his side sits in the top spot two points ahead of last year’s champions Bayern Munich.
Brazilian boss Ancelotti is expected to step down at the end of his season when his contract expires.
Real Madrid are not concerned with Alonso’s lack of managerial experience and believes his efforts display he is a top contender to become their next head coach.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
