Crossword Genius

Real excited welcoming old and great leader (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alexander

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'great leader' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'real excited welcoming old and' is the wordplay.
'excited' indicates anagramming the letters.
'welcoming' means one lot of letters goes inside another (in sense of 'inviting in').
'old' becomes 'ex'.
'real' is an anagram of 'aler'.
'ex'+'and'='exand'
'aler' placed around 'exand' is 'ALEXANDER'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for alexander that I've seen before include "Great Greek leader" , "The Great Man" , "Fellow" , "Sandy" , "Band leader" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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