Wily old fox stands in way of Alonso’s bid for immortality

Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso can confirm his status as the rising star of coaching in tonight’s Europa League final, but he will face a wily old fox in Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini.

Alonso has rebuffed advances from former clubs Liverpool and Bayern Munich to remain in charge of Leverkusen after leading the club to their first Bundesliga title in history with an unprecedented unbeaten season.

The German champions have not lost in 51 games across all competitions and could wrap up a remarkable treble in two finals this week. Leverkusen are huge favorites to see off second-tier Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on Saturday, but they face a much trickier task in Dublin against an Atalanta side who could also achieve their greatest-ever season.

A provincial club from Bergamo, Atalanta have traditionally lived in the shadow of the nearby giants AC Milan and Inter Milan.

Atalanta have not lifted silverware for 61 years having lost three Italian Cup finals in the last six seasons.

“Is it the highest point of my career? Yes, in terms of accomplishment and prestige, absolutely,” the 61-year-old Gasperini said of reaching the club’s first-ever European final.

“Everyone has their own goals. When you manage to exceed them by far, as has happened at Atalanta, you still have to be very satisfied. If we also manage to add a cup, of course, we’ll be even more satisfied.”

Gasperini’s willingness to take risks with an attacking brand of football and nurturing young talent has earned the admiration of Alonso. “He has a clear plan and built up a team with strong mentality and high quality,” said the Spaniard.

In contrast to Gasperini’s modest playing career in the lower reaches of Italian football, Alonso was a World Cup – and Champions League-winning midfielder with vast experience of European finals to call on from his playing days.

Yet in a career that spanned Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, even he has never experienced a season quite like this. “It would be historic,” said the 42-year-old on the possibility of going unbeaten in all competitions in an entire season. “It would be something written in golden letters, not only in the history of our club but probably all European football.”