XABI ALONSO is the talk of the town in Germany and Liverpool.
The Bayer Leverkusen manager has the club seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
Xabi Alonso is top of the Bundesliga and is the man linked to replace Jurgen Klopp
But how about the man away from football
This has firmly put them on course to land their first Bundesliga title in their 120-year history.
Alonso has developed a solid coaching reputation thanks to his creative and appealing style of football.
It is unclear if he will be the right man to succeed leaving Jurgen Klopp at Anfield because there are a lot of other options to take into account.
However, what about the individual who isn’t near the pitch or tactic board?
Star crossed lovers
Alonso is married to Nagore Aranburu.
The couple tied the knot all the way back in 2009, a month before Alonso left Liverpool for Real Madrid.
They met when Alonso was still a teenager and playing for boyhood club Real Sociedad.
Alonso and Nagore have had three children together, Jontxe born in 2008, Ane, born in 2010 and Emma, born in 2013.
Xabi Alonso married wife Nagore Aranburu in 2009
They first met when Alonso was a kid at Real Sociedad
Nagore has worked as a model, actress and fashion designer.
But one hilarious tale came while she worked as a hotel receptionist in Liverpool.
Ex-Reds ace and Alonso team-mate Peter Crouch recalled the first time he met Nagore.
Crouch confessed his love at first-sight reaction to meeting Nagore, before Liverpool team-mates including Jamie Carragher broke the news to him that she was with Alonso.
He said: “On signing for Liverpool I stayed at the Hope Street Hotel.
“On reception was a girl so good-looking I couldn’t quite believe she was smiling at me all the time.
The couple have three children together
Despite busy work schedules they have always made time to enjoy days out together
“I told the lads in training, ‘honestly, she’s beautiful, I think I’ve got a shout here.’ Jamie Carragher called a few other senior players over, ‘tell them again, Crouchie.’
“So I did, ‘amazing. Dark-haired. Spanish-looking. I’m in there.’ It turned out she was Xabi Alonso’s partner.
“She was doing a bit of work to practise her language skills. He was nice about it. So was she. Carra less so.”
Despite their busy lifestyles, Alonso and Nagore have always been sure to make time to spend with one another.
While at Bayern Munich Alonso and Nagore were a regular sight during Oktoberfest celebrations.
Following Alonso’s retirement from football in 2017 the pair were spotted enjoying a walk on the beach during a family holiday to California.
Alonso has also revealed the pair love a trip to the museum and going for a mountain drive with the family.
Alonso and Nagore were often sighted at Oktoberfest celebrations
Alonso revealed the family used to enjoy mountain car rides
Alonso and Nagore living the high life
Petrolhead and modelling
Perhaps it is an echo of his sleek playing style, but whenever Alonso is pictured in a car it is one of elegant design.
And his fashion sense goes in the same direction.
Alonso loves getting behind the wheel of classic beamers, with a number of Instagram posts showing him driving a variety of classic cars.
During his time in Munich, Alonso modelled for Porsche and Adidas as they launched the Porsche Design Sport SS17 and sportswear range.
Alonso modelled for the launch of the Adidas Porsche Design Sport SS17
The pair, seen posing for Adidas Porsche Design Sport SS17, really are the model couple
However, when going to training he would drive a rather inconspicuous Audi, rather than his classic Mercedes 190 SL convertible.
Cost estimates for that car today put it between £70,000 to £166,000.
In an interview with Mr Porter, Alonso – who has been likened to James Bond – is seen driving a Porsche 356 and not looking one bit out of place.
One thing Alonso can’t stand is the idea of tattoos on his body.
In a 2016 interview with Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Alonso said: “They [friends] know that they have zero chance with me.
“By the way, I am not against tattoos in principle. It may well be that this looks cool on others.
“But not for me. I just can’t imagine myself with piercings, chains or anything else. Obviously, I’m hopelessly old-fashioned.”
Alonso has always championed a sleek fashion style
One thing he can’t get behind are tattoos on his body
Special moments are like watch links
Despite his often suave appearance, Alonso is not one who often dresses to impress.
But when he does, he goes all out, and watches are the crown jewel of his wardrobe.
Alonso has likened special moments in his life and career to links in a watch.
He told The Journal: “For me, every special moment is bound to be linked to a particular watch, and whenever I put it on I’m transported back to that moment – such as when we won the Champions League with Liverpool or the World Cup with Spain.”
A IWC Steel Ingenieur Automatic 40, £10,500, similar to the one Alonso was given
Alonso shows off one of his many watches on a trip to London with Nagora
He owns watches from Panerai, Franck Muller, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Rolex, though he doesn’t feel particularly inclined to flaunt them for fear of seeming ostentatious.
Watches of Switzerland states that the IWC Ingenieur, a gift from Nagora on their wedding day, is the most treasured and sentimental piece in his collection. It is estimated to be worth £10,500.
For Alonso, the stunning watch “represents the fact that I had found a woman who thought about me, about what I like, and my personality.
“I don’t wear it much, just on really special occasions.”
Alonso says he likes IWC watches in general because “they’re not overly showy, attention-grabbing watches” and “have a certain sophistication without being flashy”.
The old saying goes: “You can tell a lot about a man from the shoes he’s wearing and the watch he has on.”
And it seems for Alonso, simple but beautiful efficiency is runs through everything he does.