Will Stuttgart coach Hoeneß be Xabi Alsonso’s successor?

When Xabi Alonso and Sebastian Hoeneß play against each other again on Friday evening (8.30 p.m./DAZN), then the present could meet the future. The future belongs to a certain extent to the sought-after coaches, but if various media reports are to be believed, Hoeneß could at some point inherit Alonso as coach of Bayer Leverkusen. The 42-year-old should even represent “the desired solution” in the event of the Basque leaving, the “Kicker” recently reported. But Hoeneß is still the coach of VfB Stuttgart, and the fact that he is so high on Leverkusen’s list is also due to the direct duels between the two clubs.

Including the cup quarter-finals, eleven goals were scored in the three duels between both teams last season. Each of these games was closely fought and each was highly attractive. This was also the case in the first meeting at the beginning of this season, when Leverkusen finally secured the Supercup with a 4-3 penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw. Hoeneß believes that a “healthy rivalry” has developed between the two clubs. It would be “heated and emotional”. Ultimately, it is exactly “what football is all about.”

“Stuttgart has incredible qualities and a similar style of play,” says Leverkusen’s Jonas Hofmann. “All the matches were very close. I think football Germany has always been extremely looking forward to this game over the last 18 months.” Now football Germany can look forward again, also to the duel between the two coaches.

It would somehow be fitting if Hoeneß were to follow Alonso at the Werkself at some point. Both represent an appealing style that is dominated by possession of the ball. Both also impress both in public and with their teams with their confidence and calmness. The fact that Hoeneß has an exit clause in his contract, which runs until 2027, would make possible negotiations easier for Bayer. According to “Sport Bild” he can go in the summer for a fee of between five and six million euros – but only to a club that plays internationally. Bayer would most likely meet this criterion.

In addition, Hoeneß would be less confronted with adversity in Leverkusen, which is currently making his work at VfB more difficult. Just like a year ago, he had to cope with the departure of several top performers last summer. Although VfB continues to play attractive football this season, they have conceded significantly more goals despite winning three competitive games in a row. After the departures of Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund) and Hiroki Ito (FC Bayern), the Swabians have only kept a clean sheet twice in competitive games. But here too there is a parallel to Alonso, because the defending champion has also revealed surprising defensive weaknesses so far.

Bayer has already conceded 15 goals in the Bundesliga, VfB has conceded 16 – what understandably annoys the coaches, but the fans can interpret it as a further sign of another football spectacle. Especially since the offensive power of both teams has not been lost this season. After leaders FC Bayern (29 goals), nobody has scored more goals than Leverkusen (20) and Stuttgart (17). Football Germany can actually be happy again, because Hoeneß and Alonso will definitely no longer become defensive fanatics any time soon.

With a few exceptions, both coaches can make full use of their personnel. The Stuttgart team still has to do without the suspended defense chief Jeff Chabot. Young Anrie Chase will represent the 26-year-old, as he did in the 2-1 DFB Cup win against 1. FC Kaiserslautern during the week, Hoeneß revealed. In addition, El Bilal Touré, who has recently been in strong form, will storm again from the start.

VfB is eighth in the table, Leverkusen third. Xabi Alonso’s team is “still an absolute top team,” said Hoeneß. She would have raised the bar with the outstanding previous season and would now perhaps be viewed a little too critically.

After three competitive game wins in a row, VfB can travel confidently to become German champions and cup winners, but is also under pressure given the situation in the table. While Bayer would like to stay in touch with leaders FC Bayern Munich with a home win, Stuttgart is in danger of slipping into the middle of the table if they lose.