Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso has become one of the hottest properties in football as the manager who led Die Werkself to a first Bundesliga title.
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich star was one of the best midfielders of his generation, winning 114 caps for Spain. In a glittering career Alonso picked up two Champions League winners medals, with the Reds and Los Blancos, and three Bundesliga titles with Bayern, as well as a World Cup winners medal and two European Championship medals.
Now, in is first head coach role he has won a Bundesliga title and is on target for a treble this season as Leverkusen are the favourites to win both the Europa League and the DFB Pokal.
From early spring the Bundesliga 2024 betting odds suddenly turned towards Die Werkself as first they surpassed Bayern Munich and then left the reigning champions far in the distance. And now, as manager, Alonso has every right to be proud of his achievements and those of his players who have blown away everyone before them, still unbeaten in 48 matches in all competitions.
Every single player at the club deserves credit but let’s take a look at a fantastic five who have put in the big Bundesliga 2024 highlights week after week.
Florian Wirtz
With 11 goals and 11 assists, this season has been a real breakthrough for Wirtz who has matured from being one of the most promising players in Europe to one of the best. He’s an attacking midfielder who can also play out wide, and his dynamism, pace and ambition make him the ideal man to be at the front of a midfield diamond.
He scored the opener in Leverkusen’s 2-0 win over Roma in the Europa League last week and, here at SBOTOP, we’ll be watching Wirtz closely at Euro 2024 where we reckon he could be a key cog in Germany’s title chasing team. With 16 caps already the 21 year old is established in the team and, as hosts, Germany are one of the nations who can win it.
Alejandro Grimaldo
With 13 assists Grimaldo is the top provider in the Bundesliga and the Spain star has also helped himself to nine goals from his flying left winger position. He’s one of the finest wing-backs in world football and, while he is happy to play in a deeper position, Grimaldo simply loves to raid down the flank and he’s one of the best crossers in the game, as well as having a keen eye for goal and a clinical finish.
Signed from Benfica on a free transfer the 28 year old is one of the very best recruits of last summer and he could have had an even more productive season having hit the woodwork four times.
But hey, Wirtz has hit the posts five times!
Granit Xhaka
Former Arsenal enforcer Xhaka has been a rejuvenated character at Leverkusen following his move last summer. He is keen to stress just how good a coach Alonso is, but Xhaka is a great leader on the pitch. After a turbulent time at the Emirates he was very close to moving to AS Roma last summer, but things have worked out very well for both the player and for Alonso.
The Swiss master is known for his dominant and combative play but he is also a class act, with a pass accuracy of 92.83 per cent, and he has completed 351 km, the most in the league, with Grimaldo third in that category. He has a thunderous shot and can also come up with the odd goal, as he did in Bayer’s 5-1 destruction of Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
The Leverkusen midfield has it all, with Xhaka, Wirtz and Grimaldo all having super campaigns; and Bayer have got it right at both ends of the pitch too.
Jonathan Tah
Centre back Tah is the most accurate passer in the league with a percentage completion of 96.53 per cent and he’s a stalwart at the heart of Leverkusen’s defence. Tenth on the list of all time appearances at the club, Tah arrived in 2015 from Hamburger FC and he’s played 339 matches in all competitions. He has 23 caps with Germany and, at 28 years of age Tah is in the prime of his career.
A 6ft 5in colossus Tah is a commanding presence and is a big reason why Bayer have the best defence in the league, conceding only 23 goals.
Victor Boniface
Nigerian hitman Victor Boniface has led the line in Bayer’s attack for much of the campaign though he was sidelined with a groin injury, returning to bolster his team’s title charge in March. He’s a clever dribbler with a fine finish and is strong in the air; and with 11 goals and eight assists Boniface has done more than enough to win his place in our Fab Five!
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
