How Xabi Alonso Created His Own Style of Football

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When Alonso took over as Head Coach in October 2022, Bayer Leverkusen were in a dire state, sitting 17th in the Bundesliga and looking like an extremely disjointed squad. But just one year later and Alonso completely transformed the identity of the team, instilling some exciting principles based on attacking play and defensive intensity. As a result, Leverkusen finished the season with a spot in the Europa league, and this season, their start has been nothing short of spectacular, currently setting the standard in the Bundesliga.
#bayerleverkusen #xabialonso #alonso #bundesliga #soccer #football #tactics
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Chapters
00:00 What Style is This?
01:29 Pass & Move
06:31 Attacking with Purpose
08:44 Gegenpress Kings
09:16 What's Next for Xabi Alonso?

[@noobiamfoolez304]

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

[@tinino8947]

Without loosing a game

[@JularnoYT]

What we are witnessing is indeed special

[@aleksamapparat]

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

[@youwillneverknow8643]

Making Mid Tier Teams look like contenders too.

[@n0body550]

Love the F1 reference

[@dertobi5735]

World class comment😂

[@thatracingguy5694]

Spainards love some space

[@Maskuh8]

​@@youwillneverknow8643In terms of bundesliga results Leverkusen has been in the top 6 since 17-18 season so I'd called them top tier team in terms of bundesliga but in Europe mid tier.

[@saifuddinahmadable]

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

[@mohamoudjama2351]

Not to mention he's dad was a good manager

[@lucaswerneck479]

Not literally though

[@gxdxr]

@@lucaswerneck479 Underrated comment.

[@chiebukankwoemeka5444]

He played under ancelloti, mourinho, Guardiola and rafael Benitez

[@themestizokid]

Del Bosque is a better manager than Benitez and u left him out lol

[@cafeplastique890]

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!

[@thatracingguy5694]

Weight of pass and dribbling are probably his greatest strengths. Irreplaceable player

[@immanuelalk9108]

Between xavi and wirtz who impacts the game more ?

[@julianschmidt147]

@@immanuelalk9108Look at a few passes from Wirtz, especially „first-touch-Passes“ or attempts that his squad mates could not process. These passes remind me a little of KDB, although the rest of the playing style is vastly different. I have not seen such a fast identification of small gaps in the defensive lines in ages. Xavi is a more straightforward player with a hell of a shot and exquisite dribbling, but he does not posses the vision and passing skills of Wirtz. Hence, I believe the impact of Wirtz is quite a lot higher. I believe Olmo comes close to Wirtz in terms of his abilities if he is not injured.

[@LookUp_Media]

Don’t forget he actually presses

[@lordfamily3071]

Think before touching compare ozil was legend go check stats and his gameplay from schalke days

[@TheRishijoesanu]

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

[@kmetofficial5800]

I agrée I want psg to face them, it’ll give PSG some more experience

[@BigRenz13]

Along with Spurs!

[@whh3946]

You mean Liverpool? Spurs are below Liverpool if justice and fairness prevailed in that forsaken cursed game

[@Yoputra]

True. Liverpool should top the table by now in epl if they won that match. Liverpool is the only one Tottenham can't suffocate if not for referee. Europe league will be between Liverpool, Leverkusen, and Roma

[@neon5433]

@@Yoputrakey word IF. They still had 10 men and would’ve been 1-0 up with 70 minutes to play. At the most it likely would’ve ended in a draw or spurs could’ve gone on to win it during the second half, if so liverpool wouldn’t be first on the table.

[@ec1665]

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.

[@XStoffe]

You seem to imply that a 50 to 70 meters diagonal pass constitutes Alonso’s idea of competitive advantage. 71 viewers seem to agree with you. That’s interesting. Can you substantiate this claim. As a coach, I am interested in actionable tactics (avoid the word strategy please). If you have ever been on the receiving end of just a 50 meters diagonal pass you must know that facing the goal is the least of your worries. But please show us how Xabi Alonso made Diagonal ping passes the base of the success of his team.

[@ec1665]

​@@XStoffe relax mate. why the pissed off tonality? next time i will ask you for permission what kinds of words i may use in my own comments, ok? smh

[@toastdog214]

@@XStoffe he doesn't imply that at all. It's more so the direction of the passes played, that Alonso arranges his 11 in possession that way to play more expansive football, as the players can pass diagonally more than trying to directly attack opposition completely vertically up the pitch (if that makes sense). In other words, create more passing lanes by forming passing triangles. He is not saying that Alonso instructs his players to ping 50 yard passes diagonally to switch up play.

[@Whocares0009]

That sounds insane ngl.

[@jakobseeberg]

@@XStoffe What are you on about, mate

[@Hazz1405]

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.

[@cristiano4415]

Lever kusen without wirtz and alonso is nothing

[@trainingbits-africa]

He is coming home to Liverpool

[@nightfall3332]

He's coming to Liverpool now.

[@redboyjan]

Carlo isn't going anywhere rn

[@stormshadowsnakeeye8264]

He is Liverpool supporter. That’s fact. Sorry Baby.

[@tfmbatha]

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

[@klauswolfbert]

Xabi

[@lebrunjo8884]

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

[@antoniobergara7878]

What about Míchel? Gironas head coach

[@bruv630]

@@antoniobergara7878 Míchel is a great contender. But imo, i still think Xabi is better by a tiny margin. Michel is still good though, that 4-2 win against Barca was unexpected

[@ogobbbyde5118]

Yeah let's leave out the manager who currently sits at the top of the PL hahaha

[@XStoffe]

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.

[@FootballMeta]

Very good Insight, thank you! I guess yeah there are some similarities with relationism in the sense of creating overloads in certain areas, but the objectives are different

[@edydossantos]

​@@FootballMetayeah. I could understand what you were relating to. There are really some similarities, but it's not the core of his strategy. It's a mix-up of these tactitica you pointed out, although some times we can see the one-two, overload and short.-medium passes forward. That's why it's unpredictable. Diniz relies upon solely on the players skills, as he doesn't care much about very fast players, and then he insists that he must play inwards and onwards while overloads the pitch.

[@nathanael_rzf]

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

[@danielf81]

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

[@noduj]

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

[@w1nther930]

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

[@Jout8-re1ij]

Football gets more, when attempt to do attacks through passing, but it goes nowhere, when the ball is just passes back to the defenders, when they dont find way through.

[@stopmarcus3605]

@@Jout8-re1ijpatience is good. Forcing the play in an unfavorable situation is bad. I hear you, but this seems to be a fair rebuttal to your take

[@MicDubTV]

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

[@achimsinn6189]

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

[@carltontony5287]

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

[@chrisp9774]

Facts

[@ToomuchTC]

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

[@robertoerba]

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

[@jaspergabriels8933]

Inter under inzaghi is already amazing and much better then under Conte..

[@MultiStephj]

@@jaspergabriels8933 rIGHT! Inzaghi is already doing good. Why change?

[@spring_213]

He will come to Liverpool... replace Jurgen Klopp...

[@xanadu7978]

Need a video analytics of Stuttgart too

[@Sonnyfan207]

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

[@itotallycare]

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.

[@stormshadowsnakeeye8264]

He is Liverpool supporter. Baby

[@multiplay3rgamer277]

He decided not to leave Leverkusen this year.

[@itzeberg]

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!

[@mumblingmercian3386]

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

[@aleksycitriauskidis7136]

Xhaka signing has been massive for Leverkusen

[@dabench4596]

Even grimaldo too

[@paulinerrr795]

truly shocking how he has been completely rehabbed. bless xabi

[@alistairwilliams9074]

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.

[@thanhtrinhngoc2444]

But... Ange guy is doin so well aye?

[@Definitely_Melnyx]

The agency is located in Leverkusen funnily enough.

[@Mrpowpow100]

Not a chance if he comes to England there is only one team he will go to .

[@jonnyroberts3618]

​@@Mrpowpow100this unfortunately for every other club in pl

[@parthasbarman]

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.

[@OPPLAYER-vg7vd]

It only started happening now bro lol Because of One Pep obviously and also he too is flexible just its difficult to see kinda

[@youssef_ali_777]

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

[@yjw2]

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.

[@HT3897]

Want to see him as RMA coach next season

[@luckymikey10]

What formation would he use?

[@HT3897]

4231 or 3241 like leverkusen

[@luckymikey10]

@@HT3897 3241 i dont see it.

[@heyitsmeagain6897]

He will be to 90%

[@opinionatortv6457]

Not yet. He should marinate a bit

[@Zibbit27]

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.

[@WenSud]

Harry Kane really can’t catch a break..

[@highlyblessedboi]

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

[@mercibeaucoup4591]

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

[@xanesilveira]

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

[@DiogoGaming2]

Sarri´s Napoli and Lazio next pls

[@domagojhrgovic7419]

This is total football by Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen.

[@PythagorasinBoots]

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

[@FootballMeta]

Thanks mate appreciate it 🙌

[@edyson22]

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

[@otaviofrn_adv]

Mourinho knows a ton of football... hearing him talking about Ronaldo in his Barcelona days is great, and gives a great idea of how much greater he would be without all of his injuries.

[@kirillsviderski4739]

Great analysis! Very enjoyable to watch!

[@TheBaronQ8]

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

[@GabrielJuca]

Thnak you for the video.very interesting.

[@aisniper4095]

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!

[@sergiogonzalezceballos3694]

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.

[@nadeemamode]

It will be interesting to see which job he takes next in a few years: bayern, real madrid or liverpool

[@elbananero290]

No creo que vaya a la Real sociedad ya, creo que el querra dar un siguiente paso muy ambicioso, tipo un real madrid, liverpool o quien sabe si un manchester city en caso de que guardiola se vaya pero eso ya no creo pq su sustituto seguramente sería un de zerbi

[@vinicoc]

very well made video, mate!

[@jayjayharrys9169]

Amazing content as always

[@hamzaabbas2733]

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.

[@JackNganga-lx8lv]

I love your videos so much🙂

[@niklasriemenschneider4197]

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.

[@foot805]

Always a good day when he uploads ❤❤❤

[@BlauerBooo]

Thanks for this :)

[@SVWFan-ij3rb]

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

[@callmemarvel298]

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

[@harithalmidfa4925]

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

[@geronimo8159]

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

[@FootballMeta]

Lol 😂

[@Writeous0ne]

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.

[@tobiasungerer3306]

excellent content and analysis

[@ganaed9954]

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

[@DanielSantos-jx9oi]

Grimaldo was already good in Portugal, however german style of play suits him more.

[@ganaed9954]

@@DanielSantos-jx9oi agreed he's playing much better than he did in Benfica, 7 goals 4 assists already. He's a complete player

[@aaronmitchell1694]

Brilliant analysis

[@issacissac5140]

Wow what a video! Incredible

[@duellinkskogdecks6089]

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.

[@stevieb6173]

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

[@grobocop2213]

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

[@tellallwithkag9176]

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

[@gabrielpartogi105]

Great video!

[@ThomasMune]

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

[@keditoredit5483]

This video will help me in FM24! Thanks

[@icklebinen]

I like the relationalism aspect of this.

[@telephonic]

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

[@spring_213]

Florian Wirtz???

[@telephonic]

​@@spring_213 He plays left of a front 3

[@spring_213]

@@telephonic that's good Alisson Gomez Konate VVD Robbo Trent Macca Diaz Zsobos Wirtz Jota Bench : Kelleher, Bradley, Tsimi Quansah, Hincapie(hope), Jones, Elliot, Gravenberch, Douglas luiz(hope), Gakpo, Nunez, Salah.

[@cabdihaybe5942]

​@@spring_213 Diaz over Salah😂

[@bananagoose2469]

He’s a great player and a great manager

[@odogorofamous8875]

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

[@nachitocarrnada]

I love this kind of content

[@aceshatter7]

Welcome to Liverpool ❤

[@fenfire3824]

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.

[@john.7966]

Great video thanks

[@TheStickyDynamite]

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

[@powerchamp7356]

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

[@sherlockholmes8121]

We want another vid for xabi please 🖤

[@lintangbyanthara507]

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

[@EastAG]

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?

[@abdurrahimabdulkadir8460]

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

[@cesarali8001]

Awesome stuff

[@user-mi7pz9fo1f]

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

[@MysticSage-hg3jh]

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

[@FootballStatsArea]

Great video 😘

[@surface4985]

Gifted footballer and now a gifted manager.

[@andrewjohn2307]

Very good thanks!

[@sinarad98]

AMAZING⚡️

[@shortrader]

come home Xabi!!! plz

[@nathanngumi8467]

Very interesting analysis!

[@omanipadmehum39]

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

[@SW.K]

Another quality Football Meta video

[@keltz5028]

Xavi Alonso would have always made a great manager as he was studying football strategy and tactics even as a player.

[@shaberutv]

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

[@aaronmstevenson]

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

[@nafilabdulla2001]

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

[@francescorusso7368]

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

[@N_Mendes]

with different cars on the street, Xabi Alonso is like a Rolls-Royce

[@tonydize3944]

I'm so happy for xabi

[@hamzamuhsin5180]

They won it 🎉 today