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.
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