Xabi Alonso has accepted that “man management” issues left a “scar” during his doomed tenure as Real Madrid manager.
The revered World Cup winner arrived in Madrid’s dugout last summer with seemingly the perfect background. Boasting a playing career storied enough to garner the respect of a star-studded locker room, Alonso knew the nuances of managing under Florentino Pérez, the same club president from his time on the roster, while also boasting the ultimate feat of dethroning Bayern Munich without losing a game in the 2023–24 Bundesliga season.
