2024-04-13 08:58:45
Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso received high praise from one of his predecessors. Erich Ribbeck wrote him a “master’s letter”.
Former national coach Erich Ribbeck has written a “master’s letter” to Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso. In the letter published in “Bild”, the 86-year-old expressed his joy that Alonso would remain coach at Leverkusen. “Xabi, you certainly had several opportunities to leave Bayer 04 now. But you would rather continue with your team. You are an unusual exception these days. You seem grounded to me, I like the way you deal with your coaching colleagues. You are authentic. And I believe that this will also be well received by your players,” wrote Ribbeck.
“Dear Xabi Alonso!” Ribbeck began the letter written in his adopted home of Tenerife. “First of all, as an older coaching colleague, I would like to take the liberty of using you on a first-name basis will celebrate the championship.”
The 2024 championship title is worth more than the European Cup
Ribbeck coached Leverkusen from 1985 to 1988 and again in the 1995/96 season. He was the first coach to win a title with Bayer 04 – in 1988 he won the UEFA Cup with the Werkself. “The first title was a milestone in the history of Bayer 04,” wrote Ribbeck and added: “36 years have passed since then. The world of football has long since changed completely. The game of football has become a different sport.”
Leverkusen’s great longing for their first championship has remained throughout all these years. “This championship title in 2024 is certainly more valuable than our win in the European Cup back then,” said Ribbeck. No team, said the former national coach, “deserves it so much. The way you performed fills me with great joy and I think it’s realistic to end the season undefeated.”