Real Madrid has appointed Xabi Alonso as the new coach, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, who has taken over as the Brazilian national team coach.
Alonso will take over on June 1 and lead the team at the Club World Cup.
Real Madrid announced that Alonso will be the coach for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028.
“Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025 until June 30, 2028,” said Real Madrid in a statement.
The club praised Alonso, saying, “Alonso is one of the biggest legends at Real Madrid and in world football.
”He wore our shirt in 236 games between 2009 and 2014.
”During that time he won six trophies.”
Alonso, 43, leaves German side Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the Bundesliga season after finishing second.
Alonso coached Leverkusen to a league and German Cup double in the 2023-2024 campaign, with his team unbeaten in the top flight, making him a target for Europe’s top clubs.
He had an agreement with Leverkusen to allow him to depart if one of his former sides, including Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich, wanted to hire him.
Alonso’s main job will be to restore the team’s solidity without compromising the attack.
After losing two matches in the whole of the previous campaign, this season Madrid slumped to 14 defeats.
The team added French superstar Kylian Mbappe last summer, but Ancelotti found it hard to include him in the team alongside Vinicius Junior without destabilising it.
Real Madrid have already signed defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth this summer, and Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to follow, with his contract coming to an end at Anfield.
Madrid are trying to bring in the England international before the Club World Cup this summer, which will be Alonso’s first chance to win silverware.
Real Madrid face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in Miami on June 18 in their opening match at FIFA’s lucrative summer tournament, which will be the first look at Alonso’s side.
Alonso will be officially presented on Monday at 10:30 GMT.
