Xabi Alonso table topper as Ivan Helguera is sacked
Both former Real Madrid players recently embarked on new careers as head coaches in the Spanish third tier with contrasting results.
Spain's Segunda B (regionally grouped third tier of the Spanish football pyramid) is a perfect platform for new emerging managers with the likes of Zidane, Imanol and Bordalás cutting their teeth in this category. This weekend saw contracting fortunes for two former Real Madrid players embarking on new careers on the bench with Xabi Alonso steering his Real Sociedad B side to the top of their regional division with Madrid based Las Rozas sacking Iván Helguera.
Xabi Alonso
Real Sociedad's first team currently sit on the summit of LaLiga with the B team also table toppers as they lead Group 2A in Segunda B. The reserve team are coached by Xabi Alonso and have won all their three league openers in the delayed start to the season and hold a two point advantage over Racing, Amorebieta and Bilbao Athletic. This is Xabi Alonso's second season in charge and the former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern man has managed to forge a side who are lethal in attack and solid defensively. The objective for the side (Sanse) is to secure a play-off place (in the top three) with the team finishing fourth last year before the coronavirus pandemic halted the season.
Helguera out at Las Rozas
The poor start to the season for Las Rozas culminated with the dismissal of former Real Madrid defender Iván Helguera this weekend. Despite securing a place for the side from the Madrid suburbs in the 2020/21 Copa del Rey (via the Copa Federación), Las Rozas languish at the foot of the table in their 2B (Group 5A) group having only secured one point from the opening four games of the new campaign.
The club thanked Helguera for his level of compromise and dedication as they look for a new coach to help revive their fortunes.