Real Madrid appointed Xabi Alonso to switch Carlo Ancelotti as coach on Sunday (May 25, 2025), with the Spaniard to take over from June 1 and lead the crew on the Club World Cup.
“Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025 until June 30, 2028,” stated Real Madrid in a press release.
With veteran Italian coach Ancelotti taking the reins of the Brazilian nationwide crew, Madrid secured a take care of former midfielder Alonso, whom they’ve been linked with for months.
Alonso, 43, leaves German facet Bayer Leverkusen on the finish of the Bundesliga season after ending second.
“Alonso is one of the biggest legends at Real Madrid and in world football,” continued Los Blancos’ assertion.
“He wore our shirt in 236 games between 2009 and 2014. During that time he won six trophies.”
Alonso will probably be formally offered on Monday (May 26, 2025) at 1030 GMT.
The Spaniard coached Leverkusen to a league and German Cup double within the 2023-2024 marketing campaign, together with his crew unbeaten within the prime flight, making him a goal for Europe’s prime golf equipment.
Basque coach Alonso had an settlement with Leverkusen to permit him to depart if one in all his former sides, together with Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, needed to rent him.
Ancelotti’s Madrid endured a disappointing marketing campaign, profitable the European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup however struggling Champions League quarter-final elimination by Arsenal.
Barcelona beat Real Madrid within the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals after which reclaimed the Liga throne from their arch-rivals, that means they didn’t win a significant trophy.
Madrid added French famous person Kylian Mbappe final summer season however Ancelotti discovered it laborious to incorporate him within the crew alongside Vinicius Junior with out destabilising it.
Mbappe netted 31 La Liga targets which ought to earn him the European Golden Shoe, however Alonso’s principal job will probably be to revive the crew’s solidity with out compromising the assault.
After shedding two matches in the entire of the earlier marketing campaign, this season Madrid slumped to 14 defeats.
La Decima
Alonso will substitute probably the most profitable managers in Madrid’s historical past, regardless of their struggles this season.
Ancelotti, 65, took Los Blancos to fifteen trophies throughout two spells on the membership, spanning six years.
The Italian received three Champions League trophies in Madrid, together with La Decima — Madrid’s tenth — in 2014, with Alonso as a part of his squad, though he was suspended for the ultimate.
Alonso was additionally coached by Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Vicente del Bosque amongst others and is taken into account tactically adroit and a very good organiser, which could possibly be preferrred for a Madrid facet that has lacked stability.
The midfielder received two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup with Spain as he helped La Roja dominate the worldwide recreation.
After retiring from enjoying in 2017 he coached Real Madrid and Real Sociedad at youth stage earlier than being appointed by Bayer Leverkusen in 2022.
Real Madrid have already signed defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth this summer season and Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is predicted to comply with, together with his contract coming to an finish at Anfield.
Madrid try to herald the England worldwide earlier than the Club World Cup this summer season, which will probably be Alonso’s first likelihood to win silverware.
Real Madrid face Saudi Arabian facet Al-Hilal in Miami on June 18 of their opening match at FIFA’s profitable summer season match, which would be the first have a look at Alonso’s facet.
Published – May 26, 2025 04:30 am IST
