That would have been a real coaching hammer!
The FC Bayern wanted to bring Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso (41) to the coaching team during Niko Kovac’s time (51/July 2018 to November 2019 in Munich). That comes out before the top Bundesliga game on Sunday (5:30 p.m. / DAZN).
Ex-Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (67/until summer 2021 CEO) reveals in BILD: “We once tried to get him to Bayern Munich as an assistant coach. Under Niko Kovac, I think.”
Just won twice 2-0 with Leverkusen against Ferencvaros Budapest in the Europa League: Xabi Alonso
The 1980 European champion explains why he appreciates Alonso so much: “If someone had such a coach as Xabi, in Liverpool, at Real, at Bayern Munich, in the national team – and had incredible success everywhere, and was also a good guy, then so is disciplined and empathetic – if he doesn’t succeed as a coach, he’ll have to deal with the devil.”
By the way, Rummenigge thinks the way to a big coaching career via Leverkusen is the right one!
Live on Bayern PK This is how Nagelsmann reacts to the note leak from BILD
The ex-striker: “Xabi needs to gain experience now, and it’s wise that he doesn’t do it right away at Real Madrid, but one or two levels below.”
Is the coaching job at Bayern a future goal for Alonso (contract until 2024 in Leverkusen)?
Alonso: “No, that’s not an issue for me. I don’t look any further than Sunday.”
The Spaniard is very much looking forward to the duel with his former club (2014 to 2017 at Bayern): “I have a lot of good memories from my time in Munich. It was a great experience playing for Bayern for three years. Playing against them for the first time as a coach is nice – and hopefully I can smile after the game.”
Alonso (three times champion, once DFB Cup winner with Bayern) continued: “After the final whistle I will have time to greet my friends at Bayern. These are good people and I have a super connection with them. But there is no room for emotions until then.”
Alonso just celebrated reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League with Leverkusen (opponent: the Belgian Union conqueror Saint-Gilloise). His 17th league game is now up (record: nine wins, two draws, five bankruptcies, average 1.81 points) – for the first time against “his” Bayern!
