sport news Xabi Alonso was RIGHT to reject Liverpool and Bayern Munich, Didi Hamann ... trends now
Just short of 19 years ago, they played over an hour together as Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks of all time on the grandest stage of them all.
Didi Hamann's introduction at half time of the famous Champions League penalty shootout win over AC Milan in 2005 is probably one of the greatest substitutions of all time. Liverpool went to a back three at 3-0 down, the German partnering Xabi Alonso in central midfield, Steven Gerrard just in front.
They can't have known at around 10:30pm local time in Istanbul what would happen over the next couple of hours. The comeback that would be made, the bonds and memories that would remain for life.
'It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy,' Hamann tells Mail Sport in an exclusive interview on behalf of freebets.com, speaking of Alonso's success with Bayer Leverkusen this season. 'Very, very likeable, an absolute team player, quiet, good sense of humour, just a nice guy.'
It really has been quite the season for Alonso. Having taken over his side, now one of Europe's best, in the relegation zone of the Bundesliga last season, they are now staring right into the eyes of an invincible campaign.
Xabi Alonso (pictured) was right to reject Liverpool and Bayern Munich, Didi Hamann has claimed in an exclusive interview with Mail Sport
Hamann (pictured) referenced the difficulty of following in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and the off-field problems at Bayern Munich
Hamann (second row, middle) and Alonso (up and right of trophy) won the 2005 Champions League together at Liverpool
'He came to Liverpool as a young kid, found his way within the team, within the club, and obviously showed a lot of people within a short space of time what a good footballer he was,' Hamann continues. 'What he's done in Leverkusen now is exceptional. I'm delighted for him, because he's been a brilliant player, but probably an even better person.'
Leverkusen wrapped up their first-ever Bundesliga title last weekend, the first side to stop German giants Bayern Munich winning the title for 12 years. They are in the semi-finals of the Europa League and heavy favourites to win that, and it seems just a formality that they will lift the German Cup too when they face Kaiserslautern in around a month's time.
44 games, zero defeats. That's their record so far this campaign. Scroll back through the Bundesliga archives and you will find that no team has ever gone a league season unbeaten. Alonso and Co might be about to make even more history.
They have ridden their luck. A 97th-minute equaliser from Josip Stanisic saved them against Borussia Dortmund at the weekend, and Jeremie Frimpong struck late at the London Stadium last week to salvage a draw against West Ham and make sure they were still yet to fail in any competition.
'Obviously they've got a huge belief,' Hamann says. 'Even if it goes to injury time and they're behind, they still believe they can get an equaliser or even win the game. I think they've done it now seven or eight times, even in 2024, not even counting before the turn of the year.
'They have very good players who stand up when when the going gets tough, and I think you need a slice of luck as well. But you've got to give it to them. It's end of April now, they're still unbeaten - what an achievement. It's exceptional, it's unbelievable, and it's very hard to put into words when they've done this season so far.'
Europe's top clubs were set to queue up for Alonso's
