How a 70s Liverpool Legend Shaped Xabi Alonso’s Career…
Xabi Alonso, the maestro of the midfield, could make the soccer ball dance like it was auditioning for “So You Think You Can Dance.” With a treasure chest of medals including a World Cup, two European Championships, and gobs of other shiny trophies, you’d expect he had a fairy godparent. Turns out, it was a legendary figure from Bill Shankly’s Liverpool sides, John Toshack, who sprinkled some football wisdom on a young Alonso. Imagine Alonso on a second-division Spanish loan until Toshack, on a quest rivaled only by Frodo’s, hauled him back to Real Sociedad and made him captain, turning potential relegation into victory.
Toshack’s coaching journey is like a footballer’s globe-trotting fantasy, but instead of souvenirs, he collected clubs across Wales, Portugal, France, and beyond. In an astonishing spell at Real Sociedad, he tapped the hidden genius of Alonso, who might have otherwise been known only as an excellent tortilla chef! Alonso’s confidence soared, leading him to achieve dizzying heights both as a player and a coach. His managerial spell at Bayer Leverkusen in 2023/24 was a fairy tale ending, winning the Bundesliga without losing—you’d think he was casting spells! Now, as manager at Real, he will face Liverpool again in the Champions League. Keep an eye on the magic, folks!
