Real Madrid have officially confirmed the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their new first-team manager.
The 43-year-old announced his Bayer Leverkusen departure during a press conference ahead of their penultimate Bundesliga game of the season and after weeks of speculation, he has now been officially unveiled as Real Madrid’s replacement for Carlo Ancelotti.
Alonso spent five years as a player at the Santiago Bernabeu, following his arrival from Liverpool for €34.5 million in 2009, and he racked up 236 appearances for Los Blancos during a hugely successful spell in the Spanish capital.
He has now returned to the club in a managerial capacity and he will be tasked with guiding Los Blancos back to winning ways after they endured just their second trophyless season since 2010.
Alonso has signed a three-year contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, and he will presented as the new Real Madrid boss on Monday.
Xabi Alonso’s coaching career
Following his retirement from playing in 2017, Alonso spent three years as Real Sociedad’s B team manager before being appointed as Bayer Leverkusen’s new head coach in October 2022 after their worst Bundesliga start in over 40 years.
He steadied the ship at the BayArena during his first campaign, before guiding them to the German domestic double in 2023-24.
Leverkusen ended the season unbeaten across the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, but their hopes of an entirely Invincible campaign were cruelly ended thanks to a 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in the Europa League final.
It remains to be seen whether Alonso will retain faith with his favoured 3-4-3 system at Real Madrid or whether he will revert to a back four upon his arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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