\n
\nBERLIN: When Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso takes on Jose Mourinho\u2019s Roma on Thursday, he will face not only his former mentor, but the man who predicted his future coaching success.<\/p>\n
\nAlonso played 151 games under Mourinho at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, winning several titles before the Portuguese returned to Chelsea.<\/p>\n
\nAsked in 2019 about which of his former players could make a successful transition to coaching, Mourinho, who started his management career working with youngsters in the late 1980s, gave a clear answer.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI would say Xabi Alonso,\u201d Mourinho told a Top Eleven conference.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cHe grew up with a father who was a player and a manager. Then he became a player; of course much better than I was.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThen he became a player, a top player, his position on the pitch and his knowledge of the game (was) very high.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cHe was coached by (Pep) Guardiola at Bayern, by myself at Real Madrid, by (Carlo) Ancelotti at Real Madrid, by (Rafael) Benitez at Liverpool.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI think if you put all of this together, I think Xabi has the conditions to be a very good coach.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nDespite Mourinho\u2019s predictions coming true, it is unlikely he forecast such a crucial meeting with his former protege would come around so soon.<\/p>\n
\nAlonso\u2019s mind for the game was sharpened early, growing up on the same San Sebastian street as close friend and current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.<\/p>\n
\nThe two played against each other on local beaches and for Antiguoko, a former feeder club of La Liga team Real Sociedad, while dreaming of hitting the footballing big time.<\/p>\n
\nAfter retiring in 2017, Alonso took over as a youth coach at Real Madrid, before moving back to his home town to manage the Real Sociedad reserves.<\/p>\n
\nSince his appointment as Leverkusen manager in October, Alonso has lifted the side out of the relegation spots and into the European placings.<\/p>\n
\nIn this time only Bayern Munich (47) and Borussia Dortmund (46) have managed to pick up more points than the 43 Leverkusen have.<\/p>\n
\nIn Europe, Leverkusen\u2019s elimination from the Champions League meant a shot at Europa League glory instead, with Alonso piloting the team past Monaco, Ferencvaros and Union Saint-Gilloise.<\/p>\n
\nThe game is Leverkusen\u2019s biggest match on the European stage since the 2002 Champions League final defeat by a Zinedine Zidane-inspired Real Madrid.<\/p>\n
\nLeverkusen\u2019s 2-1 loss in Glasgow, along with their German Cup final defeat by Schalke that year and finishing second by one point in the Bundesliga after blowing a four-point lead with three games to play, cemented the side\u2019s \u2018Neverkusen\u2019 nickname.<\/p>\n
\nThe club have never won a German league title, but have finished second five times, four of which came between 1997 and 2002.<\/p>\n
\nLeverkusen\u2019s sparse trophy cabinet, boasting only the 1987-88 UEFA Cup and 1992-93 German Cup, is in stark contrast with Alonso\u2019s rich haul of silverware.<\/p>\n
\nAlonso won Champions League titles with Liverpool and Real Madrid, along with league and cup titles in Germany, Spain and England.<\/p>\n
\nAt international level, Alonso won two European Championships with Spain, as well as the 2010 World Cup.<\/p>\n
\nAlmost a year after taking Roma to a Europa Conference League title in his first season in the Eternal City, Mourinho could rectify a slide in the league by winning a Europa League title.<\/p>\n
\nWinless in four, Roma have dropped from fourth to seventh and are now five points outside of the Champions League spots.<\/p>\n
\nUnlike Mourinho\u2019s stuttering Roma, Alonso has Leverkusen firing, with the German side going 14 games unbeaten before a surprise 2-1 home loss to derby rivals Cologne on Friday.<\/p>\n
\nAfter the loss, Alonso said his side would \u201chopefully prepare better\u201d for the crucial away match on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\nLeverkusen are unbeaten in their last nine away fixtures in all competitions and Alonso said he wanted his side to make the most of the rare opportunity.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFor the team and the club, it will be very nice,\u201d Alonso said.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cTo be in the semifinals in Europe has not happened often in the club\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe want to make it as good as possible.\u201d
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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