By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Xabi Alonso kept an eye on his players and appeared like a caring father standing next to a children's playground ready to step in, in case things got too wild.
Of course, there was no reason to step in while Bayer Leverkusen's heroes couldn't get enough lifting the trophy of the German Cup enthusiastically in the air on the celebration stage while the Spanish star coach remained in stand-by modus some meters away.
One more cheer seemed the motto for the team that finished the national league and German Cup season with 53 unbeaten games and only failed to win the Euro League final against Atalanta only a few days ago.
While the 2024 national Champions had just added the German Cup to Bayer Leverkusen's portfolio in a tight Cup final in the Berlin Olympic stadium against second-division side 1. FC Kaiserslautern, the 41-year-old Spaniard seemed filled with pride and might have thought about what was next for the club and him.
The two-time Champions League winner has led Leverkusen to new shores coming along with growing expectations when it comes to the future.
Hardly any other than the former LFC, Real, and Bayern midfielder might know about the challenges waiting for his side.
"We don't think about the future right now. Maybe tomorrow. Today I am just proud of what the team has achieved," the former Spanish international said ahead of this Sunday's opulent celebrations in the streets of the city of Leverkusen.
"He is going to win many trophies as a coach as he has harvested experience as a player and is about to gain experience as a coach," Kaiserslautern's coaching icon, 70-year-old Friedhelm Funkel assumed.
While Alonso harvested his first titles as a coach, he seems aware of the challenges ahead. To confirm the success seems as important for the club as it is for him.
Over the past weeks, the coaching rookie had turned into one of the European football coaches most courted as offers dropped by the minute. Before Bayer Alonso took the small steps in charge of a Real youth team and the second team of Real Sociedad.
Real, Bayern, Liverpool - the queue of interested clubs didn't seem to end with Alonso announcing to stay in Leverkusen and guide the side to a new level.
The Spaniard earned respect and appreciation for his decision not to leave and grab one of the tempting offers from top European sides.
The Spaniards has passed an important exam when restoring his team's faith after losing the Euro League final against Atalanta, which was his team's only defeat this season.
It seems more than a bold guess that Alonso will be turning up as the coach of several European top sides over the next years.
The man who had ruled the midfield in all of his clubs as a player slipping into the role of the overall dominating force has opened doors to a brilliant career.
Cautiously taking Leverkusen to the club's first national title in an unprecedented season campaign makes him turn into the big winner.
"We care about the future in a few days. I need a break and a vacation," the Bayer coach admitted and announced to celebrate the current success with "German beer" before turning his head to the challenging future. ■
