How Xabi Alonso stopped the goal machine Harry Kane against Bayern Munich, and is making heads turn steering the wheel at Bayer Leverkusen
After the final whistle blew, capping a symbolic night when Bayer Leverkusen thrashed Bayern Munich to stretch their lead to five on the Bundesliga chart, manager Xabi Alonso dragged his support staff to the middle of the pitch. The Spaniard and his entourage joined the tired but jubilant players in the middle and they walked towards each stand to thank the players. The moment was so eloquent that some of the shocked Bayern fans applauded Alonso’s gesture. Alonso, once Bayern’s own, is not only winning games but also winning the hearts of football fans.
The grace and calm always existed. Few midfielders in modern football could seamlessly straddle the varied roles of a midfield, he could snatch the ball from the opponent’s feet, with not so much of a swish as a touch; he could tigerish...