Xabi Alonso reveals his worst memory as a Madridista

Xabi Alonso is taking all the necessary steps to become a top level manager. The former Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich man is currently coaching the reserve side in San Sebastian, Real Sociedad B, attempting to push his team to the second division in Spain. Despite the demands of his schedule, Alonso took some time out to speak with his friend and former teammate, Jaime Carragher, on the latter’s podcast, The Greatest Game.

During the discussion with Carragher, Alonso recalled one of his darkest memories playing for Real Madrid. “The league game at the Camp Nou that we lost 5-0, that was the worst night I have lived on a football field,” Alonso revealed. “Twenty minutes into the game I confess that I wanted to leave, go home now, shower and come back. It was so painful that it gave us great determination. We could not be as naive again, or we would not have beaten them the following season”.

The pain of the 5-0 defeat in the Camp Nou eventually pushed Mourinho’s team to beat Barcelona in the 2011 Copa Del Rey Final and then in the following season to win the 2011-2012 season with a record number of goals and points. In another world, without that crushing defeat, there may never have been the impetus to drive on and win those titles. In every failure there is opportunity to learn — Alonso’s memories of his time at Real Madrid are a testament to that statement.