How Xabi Alonso Created His Own Style of Football 

5 MONTHS LATER Bayer Leverkusen wins the Bundesliga for the first time. Truly Special.

"All the time you have to leave a space" seems to be an Alonso thing

Xabi's whole life has been immersed in football. He is a good student of the game having played under three of the best managers of the modern game. Football is literally in his DNA

Florian Wirtz is fantastic. His vision and passing is Özil-esque but without the moping and the going-missing. Oh and his first touch and ball control!

Leverkusen is my favorite team to watch this season. Arguably the best team in Europe currently

excellent analysis. i would only add that the principle of diagonality plays a much more fundamental role in alonso´s strategy. the team have been taught to avoid standing in vertical lines as much as possible. this allows for more diagonal passes. the core benefit of these diagonal passes, apart from obvious space gains and forcing the opponent to defend more space as you mentioned, is the fact that the receiving player does not have his back turned to the opponent´s goal as it were the case with vertical passes. these split second advantages are what give leverkusen the edge.

This is the kind of football i love the most to see. Not some boring long ball counter or reliance on wing play. Just beautiful tactical pass play and overwhelming with great positioning

Who are watching this after leverkusen winning bundesliga undeafted??

Jose Mourinho called it years ago when he said Xabi would be a very good manager. Always listen to Mourinho.

Thanks for your ever so interesting analyses. One note though on Alsonso’s « relationism which you mentioned in the lead to the video. Ball passing between players in close proximity does not constitute relationism. Pep’s Barca did that very well and we’re not relationists. Alonso’s tactic is more resembling that of Real Madrid that that of Diniz’ Fluminense. For relationism to exist, there need to be a clear emphasis on : 1: diagonal short/médium progression passing. 2- creating massive overload on one side of the pitch and progressing within (or because of) said overload using a variety of short passing tools/tricks. 3- relationism has no interest in moving the opponents lines. Hence no interest in creating space on the other side of the pitch and suddenly switching to that empty side. By definition relationism needs players to pass the ball and thus to operate in areas that are overloaded with both opponents and team mates. 4- in relativism receiving players will move towards a designated area where the ball is expected to be passed by the team mate. One-twos only at the root of relationism only work if player are constantly on movement towards the ball. Villarreal is a better example than Alonso’s Leverkussen of that dynamic. Finally, defensively, players are told to systematically push the opponents towards the sideline and to use the line as an extra set of defenders. Defense line are thus not horizontal in shape but actually rather vertical, running parallel to the side line to some degree. In conclusion, Xabi Alonso’s team is much more reminiscent of the well established, well oiled and disciplined Real style of play (and to their Bavarian counterpart) than to that of the all out flamboyant fluminense.

So far in this new season Xabi Alonso is the best coach. Postecoglu is also up there but Alonso still the best for now.

I watched many football tactics on yt, But your content is just on another level Especialy the edit🔥

Watched every game from them this season, its just beautiful to watch. If you love football, don't miss out on their games.

Been waiting for this one! Thanks for rolling it out, man. Awesome work as always!

This is amazing, i think this is what a lot of top managers are implementing across euorpe, Pep, Arteta even Ancelotti the set up formation isn't what the structure is and is dependent on transition and creating over loads in attack while setting up with a 4 or 5 in defence , either full backs becoming wingers and then depending on who you have one of your midfielders becoming defenders too. Its actually amazing to watch

I really hope they win the bundesliga this year. Not only do they have some spectacular players like Wirtz but Alonso is a mastermind. I can see him getting a big move in the future. Madrid most likely after Carlo leaves.

One thing I really like when watching Leverkusen is that they are always looking for that linebreak. Like at 6:11 Xhaka could have passed horizontally to the left side and it would have been fine, but decides for the vertical pass that allows to break through the midfield line faster and more directly. Many teams would likely prefer the saver route which often leads to boring games with not many chances being created. I hope that this way of playing will succeed and become the norm for other teams as well as it makes for much more enjoyable games to watch

Xabi always gave me that vibe even as a player, that he knew more than most. I really hope he takes over from Ancelotti at Real Madrid next.

I think Xabi Alonso would be the perfect upgrade for Inter Milan style of playing. To me his style look like an evolution of the Inzaghi ball with the double playmaker wings and the back three with quality. I really would like to see what he would do with Inter Milan, especially with that midfield (like barella, chala, miki, frattesi, klassen, asllani) I think he would build an amazing team. But, unfortunately, i think he will be the next coach of Real or Bayern

This is what modern football is, flexibility at its best. Days were gone when team used to play with fixed and rigid formation and players used to stick their position only.

Do a Ruben Amorim's Sporting next, love to watch your videos, keep it up!

Distinguished video and analysis! Sharp, on the point, elaborately and covering every important aspect. You just missed their defensive approach which is not that bad either. They are mainly receiving goals via standards. Thank you very much for your excellent work!

All the tactical nuances you explain have made me understand the game even more. Thank you.

Genius by Xavi Alonso. Finding a new principle based on the correlation between three systems.

Wow I love the play progression and structure of this. I need to start watching them more often, I've usually only paid attention to Bayern and Dortmund in bundesliga, and laliga the most due to their play style. I really like the structure of the clustering and how the attack into the box is so well organized. Really makes me wonder how teams can react to this quickly without scrambling. Really good video.

Gegenpress , position play and relationism😮!! No wonder they are top of their league🔥🔥

What a fantastic video! So good explained. Thanks for give it us

they will win BUNDESLIGA

Nice video, nice analysis, nice editing. Good job mate and thanks for ur video

Xhaka signing has been massive for Leverkusen

This is very well articulated👏 brilliant base analysis for the youngsters watching

As a Tottenham Hotspur supporter, there was a rumour that we could go after Xabi Alonso especially when there was a photo of Chairman Daniel Levy & Scott Munn (Chief Football Offier) spotted at the London City Airport & a plane departed to Düsseldorf. I think the thought was they were going to Köln where Julian Nagelsmann agency is located. But a closer drive - according to Google Maps - is to Leverkusen. I was kinda open to the the idea of Alonso coaching Tottenham - especially according to The Athletic, Tottenham wanted "a young coach with an upwards trajectory." But then Alonso stated that he wanted to continue with Leverkusen & then the rumors ended. I didn't know how good Alonso was. Only knew that Leverkusen who collected five points in eight games, managed to finish in sixth with 50 points. Looking forward for their accomplishment this season.

Need a video analytics of Stuttgart too

This tactic is very efficient also because leverkusen has possibly the best left and right back in the world currently. Grimaldo and Frimpong has more goals and assists together than many teams combined in all top 5 leagues. As wing backs.

Alonso is playing Football Manager in real life and absolutely killing it.

Harry Kane really can’t catch a break..

Such a brilliant video. Delivery, analysis, graphics. Keep it up mate!

This is total football by Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen.

Great analysis! Very enjoyable to watch!

I'm an old follower and I almost watched every video , this one is amazing I think based on your analysis that he is more principal like ancelotti than positional I would love to watch a video like this one about Carlo's Real Madrid

Amazing video! I always only watched football! But now I'm learning so much about the tactics from you! Phenomenal job! Can't wait for your next video!

Want to see him as RMA coach next season

Excellent work good job ..very clear informative video..thanks

The goal against Köln is truely a blueprint of his style. One addition to the pass following 6:00. Everytime I watch this scene, I expect Xhaka to pass diagonally, either to Tabsoba on the left hand side, or to Hofmann on the right hand side. But not vertically. Most managers would be furious if someone deliberately passed to a teammate under heavy pressure like that. Alonso on the other hand actively encourages this, and it makes his style exciting to watch.

very well made video, mate!

Exceptional player and exceptional coach, moved to Leverkusen from our Academy team at Real Sociedad. He could not become the main coach because Imanol performance is probably the best in our History, not now but we will see when he returns back home in the future.

what a masterclass observation from you. great content bro

His vision and application are 2nd to none. I have never seen someone apply the principles of football so well in the first season of football at the highest level. All praise to XAVI ALONSO, he has been outstanding and without any doubt, he will win the German league because no one deserves it more than him.

Nice video you’ve explained the tactics well and it could be good the I now understand their tactics because my favorite football club Werder Bremen are going to play against Leverkusen next weekend

I’m an Ipswich Town fan here and after seeing this video it’s this same system we utilize accept a few tweaks: 1. We keep the ball on the turf less using the long and short pass 50/50 essentially enforcing no one particular style of play. 2nd we are using the wingers more for crosses and cutback passes, where Leverkusen is direct up the middle mostly. The rest is pretty much identical. The system works back to back promotions and fixing to see how it translates to the EPL. Seeing the positive results for Leverkusen gives me confidence.

Thnak you for the video.very interesting.

I hope xabi doesn’t immediately leave after this season, and continues to build the team for a few more years

Nice video man! Would be interesting to break down Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan!

The balance in that final third is a thing of beauty 😮 dangerous dangerous team

Amazing content as always

A lot of their players are shining Grimaldo, Boniface, Wirtz can't wait to see them play again

Double pivot of Jones and Macca and Szobo as the 10 when LFC will shift to a 4231 formation.

excellent content and analysis

Sarri´s Napoli and Lazio next pls

Great video!

Wow what a video! Incredible

I love your videos so much🙂

One of the best football tactics channels, a lot of them are very basic or don't quite understand that beating the press of the opponent is the most important part of any tactic.

Yh this tactics works much better with 352 because if the cam stays more in the center, the striker of the specific side could try to get a bit wider to get free and the cam is then able to advance to his st position. It is a very similiar approach, but the benefit about this is, that the cam doesn't need to run that much and the same tactic is less stamina consuming. Also it is much faster to play this way. And if the cam waits until he goes into st position, the other striker can predict the change of the wings and can go to the long poest and the cam help the other winger. E.g: The Ball is passed to the RM in a 352. Than the RS can try to help, get back and the rdm can advance to cam and the ldm to rdm. The cam could then decide whether he wants to go on rs or stay in the center, because he knows that in the end the ball will be played to the LM. The LS could then run to the long poest, and if his CB will follow him, he will taunt two defenders to the long poest, which creates a huge space between the right back and right center back. Thus huge space can then be used by the cam, which is lurking for this opportunity. The LM has then 3 decisions he can make. 1. Cross to the long poest. 2. pass to the cam who goes on ls. 3. run into the center on cam position and doing a chip pass on the cam who strikes over the LS side or try to do a Robben shot. Highly depends on the skill of the winger. But i think a good winger in the bundesliga must be goo at it, otherwise its probably not the right player for the top clubs. This is in a way also the reason, why Bellingham does so many goals recently. Because Bellingham is playing exactly this way. It is very similiar, but i think it will work a little bit better this way. I could imagine, that Alonso might try it out,too. Especially, if he wants to become trainer for real madrid. I think he might want to be trainer for Bayern Munic, but if he can become the trainer of real madrid in the meantime, he could accept an offer. It is funny, because this tactics comes mainly from Fifa Pro Clubs. It was the Meta of the top Teams there. I am surprised, how well it works in real life.

Great video thanks

Thanks for this :)

Great video. He just looke like the next big thing in terms of management.

very impressive!!!, he will be sought by the big clubs before very long for sure

as i've thought football tactics will evolve into a more dynamic philosophy combining all philosophy of previous managers. Just like in basketball, before there was the triangle, princeton, dribble drive and etc. Now we see teams applying all those philosophy in their plays.

Always a good day when he uploads ❤❤❤

Thanks man ,,, amazing Alonso ,,, clear idea 💡

FSG's perceprion among the fans depends heavily on whether they get this man at Liverpool or not. This is big.

Brilliant analysis

This video will help me in FM24! Thanks

Can you do a video explaining football terms, like playmaker, anchor man, libero, trequartista, sweeper and many "unique" terms

Similarities to Nagelsmann in terms of overall shape and the 2v1 vs opposition FB and the numerical advantage against the opposition backline

Very good thanks!

Very interesting analysis!

I like the relationalism aspect of this.

I love this kind of content

The subtitles call him "Shabby Alonso", like he's some British hoodlum... Lmao 😂

He’s a great player and a great manager

Excellent video. In brevity, looks like Zone 14 + half spaces

Great Analysis ! Xabi Alonso is arguably the one of the best managers this season

Awesome stuff

This is somewhat similar to what klopp used when Henderson used to cover for TAA. Basically the concept was similar. But they had prolific wingers to get the goals

Amaizing video bro. Cheers. And yes neverlusen Leverkusen hhahah

Great video 😘

BEST MATCH ANALYST I EVER SEE ON RU-vid. PLEASE ITALIAN SUBTITLES ALWAYS . SORRY FOR MY BAD ENGLISH

Fernando Diniz was mentioned for relationism, however was it not Wenger who brought that style of play with intricate one-two's to the Premier League?

It's a perfect system however it relies more on efficiency and effectiveness in attack. Overloading the attack leaves huge gaps at the back exposing the team to counter attack in the event of loosing the ball.

Great analysis. Now I know y Leverkusen r playing so well

Your vedio is very interesting I like it so much , i guiss alonso can finish 2nd or 3rd maybe he can win the bundesliga if his team concentrate more and more he needs patience and power plus experience Thanks alot for your analysis Im milan fan i hope you talk about milan and italian football Wish you luck Your friend marwan from sudan

In a way, bundesliga coaches should thanks this channel for making their job easy by making this analysis

Another quality Football Meta video

A lot of tactics seem to rely on movement of players up forwards or diagonally to the next line to create a different attacking structure. Here I feel its more about twisting the shape to whichever side the ball is on so to overload and then switch play.

Great Futbol Analysis

yes. i know it. the truth and the answer are always "balance" and "combination".

Its only a matter of time before bundesliga teams learn to sit deep n organize a low block. This essentially was arsenal last season

Welcome to your home Liverpool, Xabi Alonso 😊 When Jurgen Klopp Retires