Real Madrid have appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager, replacing Carlo Ancelotti. He will take charge on 1 June and lead the team at the upcoming Club World Cup. In a statement, Real Madrid described Alonso as “one of the greatest legends of the club and world football”.
Alonso, 43, stepped down as manager of Bundesliga’s Bayer Leverkusen, having guided the German side to a second-place finish. He previously made 236 appearances for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2014, winning six trophies during his time at the club.
“Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from 1 June 2025 to 30 June 2028,” the club confirmed. He will be officially unveiled on Monday at 10:30 GMT.
Alonso led Leverkusen to a historic league and German Cup double in the 2023–24 campaign, remaining unbeaten in the Bundesliga. Alonso had an agreement with Leverkusen to allow him to depart if approached by Real Madrid, Liverpool, or Bayern Munich, his former clubs.
Alonso will succeed one of the most successful managers in the club’s history, who won 15 trophies over two spells with Los Blancos spanning six years, including three Champions League titles.
Among them was the historic ‘La Décima’ in 2014, although Alonso missed the final due to suspension. Alonso played under managers such as Pep Guardiola, José Mourinho, and Vicente del Bosque.
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He is widely regarded as a tactically astute coach and a masterful organiser. Alonso helped La Roja dominate world football with a World Cup winner in 2010 and double European champion with Spain.
After retiring in 2017, he coached at youth level for both Real Madrid and Real Sociedad before taking charge of Bayer Leverkusen in 2022. Ahead of Alonso’s unveiling, Real Madrid already signed defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth as well as Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold, whose contract at Anfield expires this summer is expected to be unveiled in a few weeks. The club hoped to secure Alexander-Arnold’s signature before the Club World Cup, which will offer Alonso his first opportunity to win silverware.
Madrid will face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in Miami on 18 June in their opening fixture of FIFA’s lucrative summer tournament—marking Alonso’s debut in the dugout. Meanwhile, Ancelotti, who will take over the Brazilian national team, endured a difficult final season.
Although he claimed the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup, Madrid were eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals by Arsenal. Barcelona inflicted further damage, defeating Madrid in both the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals.
Barcelona also won the La Liga title—leaving Madrid in second place and without a major domestic trophy.
