Many people were already wondering if Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso could become a great head coach when he retired from playing and began his coaching career. And the facts have shown that he is not just “potentially” good.
Based on his coaching style, he is slowly living up to his reputation as “born to be a coach.”
Excellent grasp of both technical and tactical matters
As a player, Alonso played as a midfielder, controlling the field and taking on various roles, including maintaining rhythm, linking play, defending, and converting offence.
Players in this role need to be able to see what’s happening on the field, assess the situation, and respond effectively. These core skills are what most great head coaches have in common.
Alonso’s knowledge of the game’s rhythm, how to use space, how the ball moves, and other skills he learned as a player helped him coach his team so that they could often control the game in an orderly manner.
Learning background and early exercise
He has learned from some of the best European coaches and tactics, such as Guardiola, Ancelotti, and Mourinho, thanks to the clubs he has played for and the national team he has represented.
Alonso not only employed these strategies, but he also studied and reflected on them. After he stopped playing, he incorporated them into his own coaching style. Initially, he wanted to test his ideas and gain experience with youth teams or small to medium-sized clubs. He didn’t want to take any shortcuts.
Leadership and personal charm
Besides being good at tactics, a good coach needs to earn the players’ respect, trust, and obedience. Alonso’s teammates and coaches praised him a lot during his playing career for being responsible, professional, and calm and steady.
These traits have greatly benefited him in his coaching career. He can remain composed during the game, set an example for the rest of the team, and establish standards. He also knows how to listen to the players and talk to them so that they are willing to pay for him.
The embodiment of the team’s record and style
Alonso has been the team’s coach since he officially took over, and it’s clear that he values ball control, rhythm, innovative use of space, and quick transitions between offence and defence. He can also adjust his strategy based on the other team’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as the league’s rules and regulations.
Many great coaches possess this kind of tactical thinking, which considers both rules and flexibility, allowing them to adapt effectively. His team can often strike a balance between tactical discipline and creativity, whether playing in European wars, leagues, or against strong or weak teams.
Mindset and the force behind long-term growth
Being a natural coach also means being willing to improve and grow continually. Because of the fame of his playing career, Alonso is not complacent. He is open to receiving coaching, learning about the latest tactical trends, studying his opponents, and adapting his approach.
He pays close attention to detail in all aspects of training, formation, physical fitness, and game management. His calmness and patience on the coaching bench also show that he is a mature coach. It takes a long time to build up this way of thinking.
In short, Alonso’s technical and tactical knowledge, extensive education and training, personality, leadership skills, confirmation of his record and team style, and desire to continually improve make him not only a successful former player but also someone well-suited to be a coach.
There are numerous challenges ahead of him, but from what we can see, he is on his way to becoming one of the best head coaches in the field. “Alonso is a natural head coach” is not an exaggeration; it is a statement that facts and time can back up.
