Alonso's rise to coaching greatness no surprise to those who know him well

Malik Ouzia "LIVED it. Loved it. Farewell beautiful game." The caption was poetic, the accompanying picture - a greyed scene and Xabi Alonso taking one last wistful glance back over his shoulder at an illustrious playing career a social media work of art.

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It had also long been clear to those who knew Alonso best that, really, this would prove no goodbye at all.

"I'm sure that when he hangs up his boots he'll be a great coach if he wants to be," said Jose Mourinho way back in 2010. "He reminds me of Pep Guardiola when he was a player. He was already a coach on the pitch."

In 18 months at Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso has given Mourinho the kind of gift he craves most in proving the Portuguese right, taking a side sat second-bottom of the German top tier well clear of relegation and now, in his first full season, to the cusp of history. Currently 16 points clear of second-placed Bayern Munich, the club's first Bundesliga title can be wrapped up this weekend.