From 'Neverkusen' to Bundesliga title contenders: Alonso success at Leverkusen

How Xabi Alonso made Leverkusen into Bundesliga contenders

Xabi Alonso's arrival in the Bundesliga has made huge waves, seizing the attention of German football enthusiasts. Alonso's association with the league predominantly revolved around his later years as a midfielder at Bayern Munich, a stint that left a lasting imprint. His experience as a two-time UEFA Champions League winner with Liverpool and Real Madrid preceded his spell in Munich, where he featured in 117 games for the all-time European champions between 2014 and 2017 before hanging up his boots.

Alonso's transition from player to coach sparked intrigue, with Bundesliga clubs such as Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen tracking his progress while he took his first managerial steps, overseeing Real Sociedad's reserve team for three seasons.

When Leverkusen came calling in the autumn of 2022, it was during a tumultuous period for the club, as a floundering start to the 2022-23 campaign led to the exit of head coach Gerardo Seoane. Recent years have highlighted the stark difference between successful footballers and their prowess as coaches. However, Alonso possesses that innate gift that transcends from the pitch into the dugout.

After revitalising the team following his arrival roughly 14 months ago, Alonso went on to transforming them into a serious contender for Bayern Munich's throne. With 12 match days played, Leverkusen are currently two points ahead of Alonso's former club. The two teams played to a 2-2 draw in mid-September and seemed too close to separate. That game has been the only time this year that Leverkusen have dropped points in the Bundesliga, as they have won the other 11 games, only conceding 10 goals so far.

It's fair to suggest that much of their current position is down to the enigmatic man walking the sideline, but how far can this team -- and Alonso -- go?