Xabi Alonso: "We think collectively"

Winning the German championship in his first season at the helm of Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso is the latest example of Spanish coaches' success in European soccer. From Pep Guardiola to Mikel Arteta, and including Luis Enrique, Unai Emery, and Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish coaching school continues to impress. Asked about the secrets behind this success, the former Real Madrid midfielder, who began his coaching career with Real Sociedad’s reserve team, reflected on the culture of Spanish soccer: “Our training focuses on collective work rather than individual skills. As a result, we don’t necessarily have the fastest players or the best dribblers… But we think collectively and learn to play as a team from a young age, which allows players to develop a sense of how they can contribute. This is an essential quality for a coach.”