Xabi Alonso has been officially named the new head coach of Real Madrid, taking over from Carlo Ancelotti for this summer’s Club World Cup.
After an outstanding three-year spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga title, the 43-year-old returns to Madrid. He played 236 matches for Madrid throughout his career and began his coaching career at the club’s academy.
Having signed a three-year deal that lasts until June 2028, he will take charge of the team starting with next month’s Club World Cup in the United States, as they prepare for the 2025-26 season, and will be presented as Madrid’s coach on Monday.
“Alonso is considered one of the greatest legends of Real Madrid and world football. He represented the club in 236 official matches from 2009 to 2014, winning six titles during that time: the 10th European Cup in Lisbon, one European Super Cup, one league title, two Spanish Cups, and one Spanish Super Cup,” the club announced in a statement.
“He is now returning to Real Madrid as one of the leading coaches in the world after achieving significant success with Bayer Leverkusen,” the club continued.
Ancelotti leaves the Santiago Bernabéu after a disappointing 2024-25 season that ended without a major trophy, falling short to Barcelona in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey, and being eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Alonso has been the long-term favorite to replace Ancelotti, and the Spanish giants have been closely observing his progress at Leverkusen. The former Spain international took over the Bundesliga team in October 2022 when they were in the relegation zone. He rejuvenated the squad and led them to an unbeaten domestic double in 2024.
This season, he guided Leverkusen to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga, while in the Champions League, they were defeated by Bayern Munich in the round of 16.
Throughout his incredible playing career, Alonso had a successful stint with Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern. He also proudly represented Spain in the 2010 World Cup and won two European Championships.
As a graceful midfielder, Alonso made his move to Madrid in August 2009, where he secured La Liga and two Copa del Rey titles, culminating in a Champions League medal under the guidance of Ancelotti in 2014.
Following his retirement as a player in 2017, he began his coaching journey at Madrid’s academy, later taking a position with his hometown club Real Sociedad’s B-team, before moving on to Leverkusen.
Alonso’s new role involves the challenge of revitalizing a Madrid squad filled with star talents like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham, despite the team struggling this season.
Ancelotti, who had been coach of Real Madrid since 2021, faced mounting pressure after a disappointing season concluded with Madrid suffering a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League, losing the Copa del Rey final 3-2 to Barcelona, and finishing behind the Catalan side in the league.
Ancelotti bid farewell to the fans after Madrid’s final league match of the season on Saturday against Real Sociedad at the Bernabéu.
