Bayern Munich wanted Xabi Alonso | OneFootball

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has been full of praise for Xabi Alonso. Before Sunday’s Bundesliga clash between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, the former president of the German giants was keen to make his opinion of the former Bayern player clear.

“We once tried to bring him to Bayern as an assistant coach. I think it was with Niko Kovač. When you were incredibly successful everywhere, at Liverpool, at Real Madrid, at Bayern, with the national team and you are such a good guy, so disciplined and empathetic, it would be hard not to be successful as a coach,” Rummenigge said in words reported by AS.

“Xabi has to gain experience now and he is smart not to go straight to Real Madrid, but one or two levels below,” he added.

Rummenigge sees the Basque’s move to Bayer Leverkusen as the right one. The Munich outfit are keeping a close eye on his movements, however.

It was in October that Alonso was chosen by Leverkusen’s top brass to take charge of the club and he signed until 2024. Until then, he had been in charge of Real Sociedad’s reserve team.

He took over the team in a difficult position and they are currently eighth in the Bundesliga table, three points off the European places. Alonso’s side are coming off the back of three consecutive victories, against Werder Bremen, Hertha Berlin and an impressive victory over Bayern Munich on Sunday.

Kieran Quaile | GSFN