XABI ALONSO has wowed football fans with his managerial heroics at Bayer Leverkusen – but Jose Mourinho won’t be surprised.
That’s because the Special One tipped the former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder to be a top boss FOUR years ago.
Leverkusen are surprise leaders of the Bundesliga, four points above Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich, having gone unbeaten so far this season.
And much of the credit has gone to Alonso, 42, in his first managerial job.
The former Spain international has already been linked to some of the top jobs, including Real, Liverpool and Manchester City.
And Mourinho, who coached Alonso while he was playing at Real Madrid from 2010-2013, predicted he would excel in his managerial career.
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An interview from four years ago has gone viral where the Roma boss revealed, “Xabi has conditions to be a very good coach.”
And fans could not agree more as they took to Twitter to praise Mourinho’s prediction.
As one said: “He’s so good in analysis. Special one for a reason.”
While another put: “That’s why Mou will remain to be the GOAT.”
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Then a third fan added: “Mourinho is the goat for a reason, this man’s footballing brain is great and he knows when a great player will take that next step above…”
Alonso was perhaps destined to be a great boss with football running through his veins as his father Periko was a player and manager.
Periko won La Liga twice with Real Sociedad and then a third time with Barcelona.
He then went on to coach lower league Spanish sides including Beassain and Hercules before ending his managerial career back at Sociedad.
Now his son and World Cup-winner Xabi who played for Sociedad, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich has not disappointed since retiring from playing in 2017.
The three-time Bundesliga winner is now dominating the top-flight German league as a manger.
After taking over the leading role at Leverkusen in 2022, he guided the team to the semi-finals of the Europa League, but was booted out by Mourinho’s Roma side last term.
However, this season the German club are the frontrunners for Bundesliga glory with not a single defeat and only drawing against Stuttgart, Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
