Outlining the Role Xabi Alonso Will Play for Bayern Munich in 2015-16

As Bayern Munich prepare for the start of the 2015-16 Bundesliga campaign, the heart of their midfield is set for several changes.

The German giants were without a number of key injured stars for much of the last season, including Thiago Alcantara, Javi Martinez, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and David Alaba. And with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg returning from loan and Joshua Kimmich having been signed from Stuttgart, competition for playing time will be fierce, especially in central midfield.

This does not bode well for Xabi Alonso's future at the Allianz Arena, and the Spaniard can expect a very different role in the team from the role he played last season.

In fairness, he can expect to finally be the player he was meant to be when he joined the Bavarians last summer. The fact that he played in 42 games and was a regular starter for almost the entire campaign was quite surprising to many, and largely as a result of injuries to many of his teammates.

It's important to remember that Alonso was signed last season as something of a stopgap after Toni Kroos’ sale and an injury that was expected to keep Javi Martinez sidelined for most of the season. He also joined when it wasn’t certain when Thiago Alcantara would be fit. So although a decorated veteran who was paid quite well, Alonso was never meant to be a long-term solution.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

He started his Bayern career brilliantly and was rated only behind Lahm among Kicker magazine's top Bundesliga defensive midfielders for the first half of the 2014-15 campaign (in German). Alonso might have been the top-ranked player in his position if not for the final weeks of the first round, in which fatigue began to set in and he started to show his years.

Otherwise a master of the pass, Alonso made a critical error and essentially gifted Manchester City a goal in their Champions League group-stage clash, which ended in a narrow loss for the German giants. In the round of 16, he was sent off after a pair of fouls that made it abundantly clear he lacked the pace required to deliver at the highest level.

There were even several instances in domestic play in which he was rather fortunate not to be sent off. And in the Champions League quarter-finals, he was caught in possession just outside his own penalty area, leaving Jackson Martinez with a one-on-one against Manuel Neuer that led to Porto taking a surprise lead early in the tie.

Alonso turned 33 last November, and in fairness he should never have played as many minutes as he did. He was overused; too much was demanded of him at such an age.

Looking ahead to next season, it's unlikely that Alonso will be relied upon as he was in his first year in Munich. Lahm and Schweinsteiger are also past their peak, and he'd favor his chances against both, but a midfield with Thiago, Martinez and Alaba would offer a good balance that Pep Guardiola would likely favor. Martinez could be an anchor much like Sergio Busquets at Guardiola's Barcelona; Thiago would take on the majority of ball-playing duties; and Alaba could be an engine, injecting pace while juggling defensive and more forward-minded duties.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

In situations where pace is not so necessary and Guardiola needs a calm player capable of distributing precisely over long ranges, there is no better option than Alonso. The Spaniard would be perfect for such a role as an occasional starter and as a backup for games in which the preferred starters are either injured, suspended or in need of a break.

At the same time, Alonso won't necessarily be the first choice off the bench. He'll have Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Hojbjerg, Kimmich and Sebastian Rode to compete with. The Spaniard offers unique qualities among his competitors—his passing range in particular. And with Guardiola a fan of players who can pass the ball, Alonso could have a bit of an advantage. But still, it isn't a given that he'll play often.

Fortune favored Alonso last season and gave him an extra year as a regular starter at one of Europe's top teams. It was personally a good thing for the veteran, if not ideal for Bayern as they had to do without some superstars for much of the season.

They enter the 2015-16 campaign with a fully fit midfield, however, and at first glance, it appears that Alonso will have to settle into his role as part of the supporting cast, an "elder statesman" who will provide wisdom and guidance during training and who can come off the bench when needed.

Although aging, in a supporting role, Alonso will be fresher when called into action and could provide the kind of depth and impact as a substitute that most European clubs could only dream of. We may have seen the last of Alonso as a full-time starter, but we certainly haven't seen the last of him as a player.

@Mr_Bundesliga