Former midfielder Xabi Alonso has been appointed as Real Madrid’s new head coach on a three-year contract, returning to the club where he won multiple titles as a player.
Real Madrid have officially announced the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their new manager on a contract running until 30 June 2028, according to BBC reports. The former Spain international returns to the Santiago Bernabéu to succeed Carlo Ancelotti, who concluded his tenure with the club on Saturday and is set to take over as Brazil’s national team coach.
Alonso, 43, made 236 appearances for Real Madrid during his playing career, winning the Champions League in 2014. He will be presented as manager at the club’s training ground on Monday and is expected to lead the team at the upcoming Club World Cup, with his first match scheduled against Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia on 18 June.
Alonso steps into the role following a highly successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen, where he guided the German side to their first-ever Bundesliga title in the 2023–24 season - achieved without a single defeat. He also secured the German Cup, marking a domestic double in what was his first full season in senior club management. However, Leverkusen finished second to Bayern Munich in the league this year and were eliminated from the Champions League in the last 16.
Having previously coached Real Madrid’s Under-14s and Real Sociedad B, Alonso took charge of Leverkusen in October 2022 when the team was near the relegation zone. He led a dramatic turnaround, finishing sixth in the Bundesliga that season and building on that momentum with an unbeaten league campaign the following year.
Despite a strong performance across competitions - losing just three league matches this season - Leverkusen could not retain their Bundesliga crown and were eliminated from the German Cup by third-tier Arminia Bielefeld in the semi-finals. Their only defeat in 53 games last season came in the Europa League final against Atalanta.
Alonso, a World Cup and double European Championship winner with Spain, had been linked with managerial positions at Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich in recent months. He had initially committed to remaining with Leverkusen, but ultimately opted for a return to Madrid, where he begins a new chapter in his coaching career.
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly close to succeeding Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen.
Global investors are bracing for significant market turmoil when trading reopens, with analysts predicting a sharp spike in oil prices and a flight to safe-haven assets following the United States' announcement of military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iran’s top diplomat on Sunday issued a stark condemnation of the United States following overnight military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, declaring that Washington had crossed a "very big red line" and would be held "fully responsible" for the consequences.
A chorus of condemnation emerged from Latin America on Sunday as leaders from Chile, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia denounced the United States for its recent airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
The United States' military strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities Sunday triggered sharply divided reactions from the international community, with Israel lauding the move as a historic decision while Iran, the United Nations, and numerous other nations condemned the attack.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 22nd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Global investors are bracing for significant market turmoil when trading reopens, with analysts predicting a sharp spike in oil prices and a flight to safe-haven assets following the United States' announcement of military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iran’s top diplomat on Sunday issued a stark condemnation of the United States following overnight military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, declaring that Washington had crossed a "very big red line" and would be held "fully responsible" for the consequences.
A chorus of condemnation emerged from Latin America on Sunday as leaders from Chile, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia denounced the United States for its recent airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
The United States' military strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities Sunday triggered sharply divided reactions from the international community, with Israel lauding the move as a historic decision while Iran, the United Nations, and numerous other nations condemned the attack.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 22nd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
Global investors are bracing for significant market turmoil when trading reopens, with analysts predicting a sharp spike in oil prices and a flight to safe-haven assets following the United States' announcement of military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
A chorus of condemnation emerged from Latin America on Sunday as leaders from Chile, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia denounced the United States for its recent airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 22nd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iran has strongly condemned the recent U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, calling them a violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
Eight men were arrested Friday morning following a violent clash near the Iranian embassy in London, police confirmed.
Global investors are bracing for significant market turmoil when trading reopens, with analysts predicting a sharp spike in oil prices and a flight to safe-haven assets following the United States' announcement of military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iran’s top diplomat on Sunday issued a stark condemnation of the United States following overnight military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, declaring that Washington had crossed a "very big red line" and would be held "fully responsible" for the consequences.
A chorus of condemnation emerged from Latin America on Sunday as leaders from Chile, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia denounced the United States for its recent airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
The United States' military strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities Sunday triggered sharply divided reactions from the international community, with Israel lauding the move as a historic decision while Iran, the United Nations, and numerous other nations condemned the attack.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 22nd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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