Real Madrid confirmed this Sunday the appointment of Xabi Alonso as the new head coach, replacing the Italian Carlo Ancelotti. The Basque returns to the club after having been a player and then training as a coach in the merengue youth divisions, before taking charge of Real Sociedad B and shining at the helm of Bayer Leverkusen.
"Real Madrid C.F. announces that Xabi Alonso will be the coach of Real Madrid for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028," the institution announced through an official statement.
Xabi Alonso será el DT del Real Madrid hasta mediados de 2028
The former midfielder returns to the white entity, where he left his mark as a footballer and where he also took his first steps as a coach. In 2019 he left the club to take charge of Sanse, Real Sociedad's reserve team, and later took on the challenge of managing Bayer Leverkusen.
Under the command of the German team he broke Bayern Munich's dominance in the Bundesliga, by winning Leverkusen's first league title in history during the 2023-24 season, in which his team did not suffer any defeat. During his two years and seven months in Germany, he also managed to lift the German Cup and the local Supercup, in addition to reaching the final of the Europa League.
Alonso ganó la primera Bundesliga del Leverkusen
"Xabi Alonso is one of the greatest legends of Real Madrid and world football. He defended our jersey in 236 official matches, between 2009 and 2014. During that time he won 6 titles: the tenth European Cup in Lisbon, 1 European Supercup, 1 League, 2 Copa del Rey, and 1 Spanish Supercup," highlights the statement released by the club.
"Xabi Alonso is also a legend of the Spanish national team, with which he won 1 World Cup (2010) and 2 European Championships (2008 and 2012), in 113 international matches," added the note.
Los dos hitos más importantes de su carrera: "La Décima" y el primer Mundial de España
The club emphasizes Alonso's evolution as a coach to become "one of the best in the world" thanks mainly to his work in German football.
"Xabi Alonso began his coaching career in the Real Madrid youth academy, leading the 2018-2019 Infantil A season, with which he was proclaimed League and Champions Tournament champion," adds the text.
"He now returns to Real Madrid as one of the best coaches in the world, after making history at Bayer Leverkusen, a team with which he has won the League, the Cup, and the German Supercup in three seasons," concludes the statement issued by the white club.
