From the publisher:
Xabi Alonso, The Elegance of a Leader is the remarkable story of one of football's most intelligent midfielders and one of the most exciting coaches of the modern era. Admired for his composure, vision and leadership, Xabi Alonso enjoyed a glittering playing career at the highest level before embarking on a managerial journey that has established him among football's most respected thinkers.
From his early years in the Basque Country to triumphs with Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Spain, this compelling biography traces Alonso's rise through the game. Reliving iconic moments including Istanbul 2005, Spain's World Cup success in 2010 and consecutive European Championship victories, the book explores the qualities that made Alonso an elite performer. It also examines the tactical principles, leadership traits and football intelligence that have underpinned his transition into management, culminating in his transformative work at Bayer Leverkusen and emergence as one of the game's outstanding young coaches.
- Charts Xabi Alonso's journey from the Basque Country to football's highest stage
- Relives his greatest achievements with Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Spain
- Explores his role in Spain's era-defining World Cup and European Championship victories
- Examines the tactical philosophy and leadership principles that shaped his career
- Follows his evolution into one of football's most admired and innovative coaches
- Provides insight into the transformation of Bayer Leverkusen under his management
From Istanbul, Vienna and Johannesburg to Madrid, Munich and Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso, The Elegance of a Leader is the story of a footballer whose influence defined a generation and a coach now helping shape football's future. Essential reading for supporters, students of the game and anyone interested in leadership, tactics and excellence in elite sport.
The author:
Luca Caioli is one of the world's leading football authors. Born in Milan in 1958, he has written numerous bestselling biographies and novels that have been translated into more than 40 languages and have sold over a million copies worldwide. During a journalistic career spanning more than 30 years, he has covered the biggest events in world football and worked for leading media organisations including Il Manifesto, La Repubblica, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Euronews, RAI, Granada TV, Sky TG24, Marca and Corriere della Sera. He lives in Madrid.
Cyril Collot is a journalist and author specialising in sport. Born in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon in 1973, he has co-authored around 30 sports books and has collaborated with Luca Caioli on many internationally successful football biographies since the 2010s. He began his career with Le Progrès before working for Euronews and OLTV, the official television channel of Olympique Lyonnais. He is the founder of the digital content company Le Chat Qui Dort Production and is also a commentator for Ligue Sport-Boules M1 broadcasts on Sport en France and L’Équipe Live.
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