Soccer-Xabi Alonso in his element coaching Sociedad's younger generation

Former Liverpool and Real Madrid legend Xabi Alonso attends a news conference in San Sebastian, Spain, October 30, 2021. Picture taken October 30, 2021. La Liga/Handout via REUTERS

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (Reuters) - Ex-Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso paces up and down the sideline on a rainy Friday night in San Sebastian giving instructions to his new charges - Real Sociedad's youth team, playing in Spain's Second Division.

It may seem a humble managerial role for a great like Alonso, winner of the World Cup, two European Championships, the Champions League with Liverpool and domestic league titles with Real and Bayern, but the 39-year-old could not be happier.