Bayern Munich great Hitzfeld hails Victor Boniface's 'charismatic' boss Xabi Alonso

Bayern Munich's legendary manager Ottmar Hitzfield has come out to praise Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso.

Alonso has completely turned things around at the BayArena after guiding Leverkusen to a record-breaking start to the season across all competitions, with Nigeria’s Victor Boniface playing a key role. 

The 42-year-old has become one of the brightest and most sought-after managers in the game in Europe. 

Alonso has changed Werkself from Bundesliga strugglers to record-breaking after going 25 matches unbeaten, a record for any German team in history.

Nigeria’s Boniface has played a crucial role in this feat after Alonso signed him last summer from Union Saint-Gilloise. 

The 22-year-old has become Bayer’s contributor-in-chief as they sit top of the Bundesliga and finished the Europa League group stage unscathed. 

Per Bavarian football works, Alonso’s work with Boniface and his teammates at Leverkusen has not gone unnoticed.

The former Bayern, Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder has been described as calm charismatic by a legend in the game, former coach of rivals, Bayern Munich, Hitzfeld, who has expressed his admiration for the former Bavarian. 

“How Xabi Alonso leads the team, what charisma he has,” Hitzfeld stated. 

“He stays calm, he is a role model on the sidelines for many other coaches. He was a great midfielder himself and you can see that he transferred his philosophy to the team,” he added.

Alonso was rumoured to be on his way to his former club Real Madrid, but Los Blancos have moved swiftly to extinguish the rumours after Carlo Ancelotti extended his contract by two years.