Legendary coach Vicente del Bosque, who led the Spanish national team to World Cup glory in 2010, recently spoke about the present and future of one of his former players: Xabi Alonso. During an official event in Alalpardo to present the final stage of the 2025 Vuelta a España, the veteran manager praised his former midfielder’s evolution on the touchline.

“Xabi has shown that he’s ready,” Del Bosque said. “In every team he’s coached, he has left a strong impression. It’s only natural that he’s now being linked to Real Madrid,” he added, referring to the ongoing speculation connecting the current Bayer Leverkusen boss to the Madrid job.

A natural candidate for Real Madrid

Del Bosque, who knows the inner workings of both Real Madrid and Spanish football, highlighted that many players from Spain’s golden generation already showed coaching aspirations back in the day. “I’m not surprised he’s come this far. He has character, tactical vision, and was always a well-rounded player,” explained the former manager.

He also fondly recalled Spain’s historic 2010 World Cup title in South Africa, the country’s first ever. “It was a major step forward for our nation. We had a clear playing style, top-quality players, and that bit of luck you always need,” he said. “Today, I see a promising Spanish team again, with new faces but a lot of potential.”

Thoughts on the Club World Cup and current European football

Del Bosque also commented on the recent Club World Cup held in the United States, offering his view on its surprising outcome. “PSG had been the most convincing team throughout, but in football, the favorite doesn’t always win. In the end, Chelsea lifted the trophy, showing how competitive these tournaments can be,” he noted.

While avoiding controversy over the competition's format, Del Bosque admitted that, as a spectator, some details often go unnoticed. “You don’t always realize whether it’s played at the beginning or the end of the season—you just enjoy the show,” he said.

Del Bosque’s words only add to the growing support for Xabi Alonso to one day take over the Real Madrid bench, a place where he already made history as a player and where many now see him as the natural successor.