Liverpool legend Alonso keen to manage ‘elite team’
Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso is keen to manage an “elite team” in the future but he insists that he is in “no hurry” to do so.
After playing over 120 times for Real Sociedad, Alonso joined Liverpool in 2004. He won the Champions League and FA Cup during his time at the English club.
The Spaniard went onto have spells at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich before he retired from professional football in 2017.
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Alonso took his first job in senior management in 2019 as he returned to Real Sociedad to become the head coach of their B team.
He has told The Athletic that he is “very happy” where he is at the moment:
“Everyone has their own decisions. I try to take the steps myself, not be pushed,” Alonso said.
“I have the ambition to manage an elite team, but I am in no hurry. I am very happy where I am. The timeline at the moment is just to keep our place in Segunda this year.”
Alonso went onto say that it is pleasing to have the “patience” of the board at Real Sociedad:
“There is always a moment to come home.
“After being away for so many years, there is always a moment to come home.
“I was starting a new career, and I knew I was going to learn here, to have the patience and the support of so many people.
“There is a very clear model here, with support, facilities, communication — it is all very natural, very fluid. The process is helping me to know myself, to correct things, to make mistakes.
“This is a place where you have a bit more space to learn. The players teach me a lot too, what it is to train, to play, to communicate and explain. This is my third season and it is going well.”
Alonso’s old Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard has taken over at Aston Villa. The Villans face Liverpool next month and their boss does not think this game is particularly important:
“I don’t think me or anyone else will be able to control the noise, but for me that’s not important.
“What’s important is the chance to go to Anfield and win and try to take maximum points, which is the attitude and mentality that we’ll have going into every game.
“It is what it is, I want to win every game that I play in. Now my priority, my focus and everything that I will give on a daily basis will be for Aston Villa.
“One thing I can guarantee for all the supporters, the players and all the staff here is that when I commit to something, I’m all in.”
