Xabi Alonso makes revelations

Fired more than a month ago by the Real Madrid management, Xabi Alonso recently opened up

In the documentary “Raynald Denoueix, le jeu avant le je,” Xabi Alonso reflected on what he learned under Raynald Denoueix. The former Real Madrid coach shared how the Frenchman transformed his view of football during the 2002-2003 season.

“Raynald was one of my first mentors. He talked to us about things we weren’t used to hearing: pairings, the different zones of the pitch, the link between all the movements… Everything became more collective, more tactical. He had this calm way of passing on his knowledge, an educated, thoughtful spirit who knew how to get the best out of us.” he revealed.

That season will forever be etched in Alonso’s memory. Real Sociedad, despite its youth and limited squad, managed to compete toe-to-toe with the Real Madrid of Zidane, Figo, and Ronaldo. “That defeat on the final matchday is a thorn that still sticks in my heart. Winning La Liga would have been almost as big as lifting a World Cup. But the most important thing is what Raynald taught me: moderation, emotional balance, and understanding of the game. Among all my coaches, he holds a special place—a true teacher.” recalled the former Real Madrid manager.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.