Q&A: Xabi Alonso on leaving Real Madrid for Bayern, playing for Pep

Author:
Grant Wahl
Publish date:
Feb 17, 2015

Xabi Alonso is a rare breed in soccer, a world-class player who’s also whip-smart at explaining the game—and in more than one language, no less. Plus, at 33, his longevity at the top is remarkable. He was a key player on UEFA Champions League winners nine years apart at Liverpool (in 2005) and Real Madrid (in 2014), and now he’s bossing the midfield for Bayern Munich, one of the favorites to win this season’s UCL crown.

I caught up with Alonso over the phone in advance of Bayern’s round of 16 tie against Shakhtar Donetsk, the first leg of which takes place in Lviv, Ukraine, on Tuesday (2:45 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 2) and is Alonso's 100th Champions League appearance. Here’s what he had to say:

SI: You had just won a long-awaited Champions League title with Real Madrid last May. Why did you want to move to Bayern?

Alonso: It was a difficult decision to make, because I was already set in Madrid. It’s a fantastic club, and I have always been very grateful for everything that had gone on for four to five years. At that moment, I thought after winning Champions League it was a big accomplishment for myself and for the club, and I probably needed a new experience. Coming here to Bayern has been good for me.

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SI: You’ve already set passing records for the Bundesliga. Does what you do as a player in some ways fit Pep Guardiola’s style even more than the styles you played at Real Madrid?

Alonso: The style at Madrid and now at Bayern, it’s because of the philosophy of the coaches, it’s because of the players that you have around. Here the tempo of the game is different as well in the Bundesliga. So for me, I have to adapt and play under the circumstances. And so far I think I have adapted well to the new club. It hasn’t been a problem.

SI: Is it a desire of yours to coach someday? And is that connected to wanting to work with Guardiola?

Alonso: The way he has managed his clubs over the years, it’s something that you need to know firsthand why he’s been so successful, so methodical, why he’s trying to bring that idea to the team. So far in the months I have been here I am learning a lot. That was a good reason to come here as well.

SI: Bayern drew Shakhtar in the round of 16. How are you approaching these games?

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Alonso: For us it’s a massive tie. We know that Shakhtar has the European experience, they have great players. Maybe they don’t have that big name in Europe, but we know they are very dangerous.

We know if we’re not on top of our game and don’t pay attention to the small details and have one bad game, the tie can go. So we need to be very careful and very focused for the game.

SI: Expectations are so high for Bayern that even one loss like the 4-1 defeat to Wolfsburg can bring questions. What happened?

Alonso: Of course, there were mistakes, and we try to learn from the mistakes we made that day. We have already determined them and tried to correct them and not make them again. Because we know against good teams like Wolfsburg you’re going to be punished when you make big mistakes. You have to learn from the things you haven’t done properly.

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SI: You’ve played in Spain, England and now Germany. What’s the most enjoyable part for you coming to Bayern?

Alonso: So far in my football career I think I’ve been lucky to enjoy wherever I’ve been. I came from my hometown team, Real Sociedad, and next I went to a historic and very prestigious club in Liverpool, then came back to La Liga at Real Madrid, one of the biggest clubs in the world. And now coming to another great club with prestige and a great organization at Bayern, I am trying to learn from everything. I try to notice how football works in different countries. And for me to be able to live that experience firsthand in my career, it’s something I am trying to build.

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SI: If you happen to meet Real Madrid in Champions League, how tough would that be?

Alonso: There is a long way to go. If that happens it would be very special, very emotional for me, because I am very grateful for everything I lived there for five years. And of course I know pretty well that team. We’ll see what happens!

GALLERY: Bayern Munich through the years

FC Bayern Munich Through the Years

1900

A Munich gymnastics club refuses to let eleven of its members join the German Football Association, so those eleven form Bayern Munich as a standalone football club that same evening.

1965

Franz Beckenbauer and Bayern Munich enter the Bundesliga for the first time, having been passed over for the initial collection of teams in favor of 1860 Munich. They win the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) in their first season and finish third in the league.

1967

The club captures its first European trophy, winning the 1967 Winner's Cup with an extra-time victory over Glasgow Rangers.

1970

Udo Lattek is hired as head coach. In two different stints in charge of the club, Lattek (seen here in '87) would coach for more days (over 3,000) and win more trophies (10) than any other coach in the club's history.

1971

The club moves from the Grunwalder Stadion to the Olympiastadion, which had been built for the 1972 Summer Olympics. It would be Bayern's home for 35 years.

1972

Bayern Munich defeats Schalke 5-1 in the first live televised match in Bundesliga history, winning that season's league title as a result.

1974

The club wins its first European Cup (now Champions League), 4-0 over Atletico Madrid. It goes on to win the competition the subsequent two years as well.

1974

The club signs Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The striker would go on to score 162 goals for the club and is currently the CEO of the corporation that owns Bayern Munich.

1976

The club wins its first international trophy, defeating Brazilian club Cruzeiro to win the Intercontinental Cup (now abolished).

1987

Jupp Heynckes is hired as head coach. He would win two Bundesligas and two Super Cups.

1993

Norwich City defeats Lothar Matthaus and Bayern Munich 2-1 at the Olympiastadion in the UEFA Cup (now Europa League), the only time a British club was able to defeat Bayern at its old home ground.

1996

With Franz Beckenbauer as interim manager, Bayern wins the UEFA Cup final against Bordeaux, the only time they have won the competition.

1998

Ottmar Hitzfeld is hired as head coach. He would go on to coach the second-most total games and win the second-most total honors in club history (both behind Uto Lattek).

1999

Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

Bayern loses the Champions League final in extra time to Manchester United.

2001

Bayern wins its third consecutive Bundesliga title with a stoppage-time goal against Hamburg from Patrik Andersson on a rare free kick from inside the penalty area.

2001

Bayern wins the Champions League after defeating Valencia on penalty kicks at the San Siro in Milan, Italy.

2001

Bayern wins the Intercontinental Cup in extra time against Boca Juniors, thanks to a goal from Samuel Kuffour.

2005

The club moves from the Olympiastadion to the newly-built Allianz Arena, which they share with local rivals 1860 Munich.

2008

The club hires Jurgen Klinsmann (left) as head coach following his success with the German national team at the 2006 World Cup. He is fired 10 months later.

2012

Bayern reaches the final of the Champions League in its home stadium, but loses on penalties to Chelsea. It is the first time the club is defeated by an English team in Munich.

2013

Bayern Munich wins the Bundesliga with six games left, the earliest a champion has ever secured the title. Bayern also sets the record for most points in a season, most wins in a season, and fewest defeats.