Football Daily
Euro Leagues: Xabi's Leverkusen Farewell, & Carlo's off to Rio
May 15, 2025
Raphael Honigstein and James Horncastle join the conversation, sharing their expertise on key football moments. They reflect on Xabi Alonso's successful tenure at Bayer Leverkusen and speculate about his return to Real Madrid. Tim Vickery adds insights on Carlo Ancelotti's move to coach the Brazil national team, raising questions about Neymar’s future. The pod also celebrates Bologna's first Coppa Italia win in over 50 years while discussing Sampdoria's shocking relegation to Serie C, highlighting the emotional rollercoaster of European football.
42:32
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Quick takeaways
- Xabi Alonso's successful tenure at Bayer Leverkusen transformed the club, setting high standards and challenging Bayern Munich's dominance in the Bundesliga.
- Bologna's historic Coppa Italia victory after 50 years exemplifies the importance of resilience and effective management in overcoming adversity.
Deep dives
Xabi Alonso's Transformative Impact at Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso's tenure at Bayer Leverkusen marked a significant transformation for the club, turning it into one of the best in its history. Under his guidance, Leverkusen achieved its best-ever performance by winning a double and going through an entire Bundesliga season unbeaten. Despite a less impressive finish in the recent season, where they finished second and faced an unexpected elimination from the DFB Pokal, his coaching success has set new standards for resilience and winning mentality. This impressive track record has established him as a leading candidate for top teams, including Real Madrid.
