Building a reputation and earning respect as a coach can be tough, even after years in management, Xabi Alonso has done it inside a couple of years and all without taking a single big job.
The 39-year-old serial trophy-winning former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich player is most people’s tip to become the next big thing in management – he knows picking his first top-flight post will be crucial to living up to the huge expectations.
Bild reported earlier this week that he had agreed to take over at Borussia Monchengladbach but on Friday he announced he was extending his contract as Real Sociedad’s B-team coach until 2022.