'Right step' for Alonso to take over at Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso said the time was right to move into first-team management, after being officially unveiled as Bayer Leverkusen's new coach on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference after replacing sacked manager Gerardo Seoane, Alonso said he was "highly motivated" to give the team "a fresh start". In March 2021, Alonso was heavily linked with the vacant position at Bundesliga rivals Borussia Moenchengladbach, but he knocked back the interest in favour of extending his contract coaching Real Sociedad's second team.