I hope you’re not sick of seeing Xabi Alonso’s (gorgeous) face in magazines yet, because he’s in yet another one!
Xabi is featured in the fall-winter edition of FHM’s Bionic supplement, under the tagline “your personal trainer.” Yes, please.
Some of the things in the accompanying interview we already know, but I don’t care. I’ll just look at the pictures.
The interview
Q: What are you values as a professional athlete?
A: I like to be honest and respectful of others, and I think how you behave on the field is very important.
Q: So, you don’t believe that the end justifies the means?
A: No. The end is to win, and the means are to be honest.
Q: Your career has been brilliant…
A: Yes, I’m satisfied, but I’m still ambitious.
Q: Your best game?
A: I have two: the final of the World Cup this year, and the final of the Champions League in 2005 with Liverpool.
Q: And the worst?
A: There have been a lot of deceptions, but I remember especially the 2006 World Cup, when France eliminated us.
Q: Which athlete do you admire?
A: Michael Jordan.
Q: Can we talk about coaches?
A: Yes, without any problems.
Q: The best?
A: Vicente del Bosque, because he’s a great coach and a great person.
Q: Very different from Luis Aragonés?
A: Aragonés was more impulsive.
Q: And José Mourinho?
A: He has a very elaborate way of working, and he knows what he has to do in each moment.
Q: And how was Benítez?
A: He focused more on technical aspects than psychological or personal.
Q: And how do you prepare for a game?
A: I try to anticipate and visualize what could happen. And later, I always get a bit nervous before, but I think that’s necessary.
Q: What is your strong point on this team?
A: I think it’s my ability to analyze and organize… I like to be organized both on and off the field.
Q: It’s been said that you’re quite an elegant man…
A: I don’t know, maybe it’s from my way of being… I’m very interested in new things: fashion, accessories, watches, gadgets…
Q: Can you live without technology?
A: Let’s just say that you shouldn’t deprive me of it: I have a Blackberry, and then from Apple I have everything; the latest is the iPad.
Q: Your favorite web sites?
A: http://www.nationalgeographic.com and http://www.ebay.es.
Q: Music?
A: When I was younger, Nirvana. Now, Calamaro, Coldplay, Quique González…
Q: Movies?
A: I didn’t like The American with George Clooney, but I did like the latest from Woody Allen.
Q: Books?
A: I always read newspapers, and now I’m reading Octopus by Daniel Estulin and El Palestino by Antonio Salas.
Q: Vacation spots?
A: European capitals, with London on top of the list.
Q: Where do you like to get lost?
A: In the barrio viejo (old town) of San Sebastián.
Q: And when you’re done with football?
A: I don’t know, sometimes I fantasize about dedicating myself to something completely different… But it’s a fantasy.
How Xabi takes care of himself
Eating – like a good Basque, Xabi likes to eat. “Luckily, I can eat everything since I don’t have any weight problems, and I don’t even have a set diet.” There’s always fresh fish in his refrigerator, and his favorite restaurant, Elkano in Getaria, “never lets me down.”
Personal care – “in addition to basic hygiene, I use gel, shampoo, deodorant, cream for the hair, a moisturizer and cologne daily.”
Exercise – Xabi does the four exercises shown above. [Note: this would be a good thing to leave lying around the house, to make your man as much like Xabi Alonso as possible.]
And once again, work took a back seat to this blog!