During Bayer Leverkusen’s 2023/24 title season, the two coaches met when Robert Šemlič had the chance — arranged through his agent — to shadow Xabi Alonso for four days. Šemlič described the experience as “really very cool,” praising Alonso’s calm, serious approach and his obsessive attention to detail. He noted that they don’t think exactly the same way, but that he learned a lot in those few days, calling Alonso “a football maniac — in a very positive sense.”
Additional comments and context
– Short, focused observation periods like this are common among coaches seeking to broaden their methods and perspectives. Seeing a champion coach’s routines firsthand can offer practical insights into match preparation, management of training details and the day-to-day habits that underpin success.
– Šemlič’s self-described love of detail likely made the visit especially productive; exchanging ideas with a coach who emphasizes minutiae can refine one’s own processes without discarding individual philosophy.
– While the two coaches may maintain distinct styles, such encounters tend to accelerate learning and cross-pollination of best practices, which benefits both personal development and the wider coaching community.
Summary
Robert Šemlič shadowed Xabi Alonso for four days during Leverkusen’s 2023/24 championship campaign, praising Alonso’s calm, meticulous approach and describing the visit as a valuable learning experience. The meeting highlights how short-term, observational exchanges can help coaches refine their methods and adopt useful practices.