Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is backing Chris Coleman for success at his former club, Real Sociedad.
Xabi told Marca: "In England, his decision to move abroad was big news. At first it was a big surprise that he chose to go to Real instead of looking for another team in the Premier League."
"Coleman's story is an interesting one. He quickly gained prestige among his team-mates at Fulham and moved from player to assistant manager, and then from assistant to coach in a small amount of time. I hope he does well," he said.
The stylish Spain midfielder remembers Coleman's Fulham side as a "well-organised" outfit and says that under the Welsh coach, Sociedad will be particularly strong at home.
"His teams are usually very well-organised and difficult to beat, especially when they play at home. Away from home, they found it harder to win games... but what I would stress is that, in the years he was at Fulham, Coleman comfortably achieved the goal of avoiding relegation," he said.
