They used to call him the midfield maestro at Anfield, but these days Xabi Alonso is pulling the strings from the touchline back in his homeland.
Having started his professional career at Real Sociedad, Alonso enjoyed five memorable years at Anfield, including an incredible Champions League triumph in 2005, before going onto further success with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. A World Cup winner and twice European champion with Spain, the 40-year-old is now back where it all started, coaching Sociedad's B team and this weekend, is looking forward to his 90th game in football management.
Many Liverpool supporters have floated the idea of Alonso one day taking charge of first team affairs at Anfield, once Jurgen Klopp eventually decides to call it a day. But if he has got designs on following in the footsteps of the German, he is hiding it well for now, while he finds his own way in football management.
