Xabi Alonso Returns to Real Madrid as Manager
Real Madrid made a significant announcement on Sunday, revealing that Xabi Alonso would be taking over as the new manager of the club. The former player is set to return to the Santiago Bernabeu, where he had a successful playing career spanning six seasons, during which he clinched multiple trophies.
At the age of 43, Alonso has inked a three-year contract with Real Madrid, which is slated to run until June 2028. He steps into the role previously held by Carlo Ancelotti, who managed his final game for the club on Saturday.
Following Ancelotti’s decision to coach the Brazilian national team, Real Madrid acted swiftly to appoint a new manager, given the Italian’s failure to secure any major silverware during his second stint at the helm.
Having recently guided Bayer Leverkusen to success, Alonso bid farewell to the German outfit earlier this month. His tenure at Leverkusen saw him lead the team to their first Bundesliga title last season, going unbeaten throughout the campaign. Additionally, he steered them to the Europa League final and triumph in the German Cup.
While Alonso’s contract with Leverkusen was originally set to run until 2026, the club granted his request to terminate it at the conclusion of the current season.
Prior to the upcoming Club World Cup in the US, where Real Madrid will be participating, Alonso is set to be unveiled as the new coach on Monday. He is scheduled to officially assume his role on June 1.
Having made the switch from Liverpool to Real Madrid in 2009, Alonso featured in 236 matches for the Spanish giants, contributing to their success in clinching two Copa del Rey titles, a La Liga triumph, and the long-awaited 10th European trophy.
Alonso’s coaching journey began within Real Madrid’s youth system, where he oversaw the Under-14 side that secured league and Champions tournament victories in the 2018-19 season. Subsequently, he transitioned to managing Real Sociedad’s reserve team before taking on the challenge at Leverkusen.
With aspirations to follow in the footsteps of Zinedine Zidane, another former Real Madrid midfielder turned successful manager, Alonso aims to lead the club to glory, much like his predecessor.
Real Madrid, under Ancelotti’s guidance, fell short in La Liga to Barcelona and suffered defeats in both the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals this season. Their Champions League title defense was also halted by Arsenal in the quarterfinals.
Alonso’s first test as Real Madrid manager will come in the form of the Club World Cup, a newly expanded 32-team competition set to kick off on June 14. The team finds themselves grouped with Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia, Pachuca from Mexico, and RB Salzburg from Austria.
