Real Madrid have officially announced the appointment of club legend Xabi Alonso as their new head coach. The Spanish tactician will take over from veteran manager Carlo Ancelotti on June 1, 2025, with a contract running until June 30, 2028. His first major test will come swiftly as he leads the team into the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.
In an official statement, the club declared: “Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025, until June 30, 2028.” The 43-year-old leaves his position at German side Bayer Leverkusen following a stellar campaign, having guided them to an unbeaten Bundesliga season and a domestic double, solidifying his status as one of the most promising managers in Europe.
Alonso’s return to Madrid marks a sentimental and strategic move. A former midfield general at the Santiago Bernabéu, Alonso played 236 matches for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2014, winning six major titles, including La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. “He is one of the biggest legends at Real Madrid and in world football,” the club’s statement read.
He will be officially presented as manager on Monday at 10:30 GMT.
The transition comes as Carlo Ancelotti departs to manage the Brazilian national team. While the Italian coach had a glittering legacy at Madrid — earning 15 trophies across two spells — the 2024-25 campaign fell short of expectations. Despite winning the European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup, Madrid endured a disappointing season overall, exiting the Champions League at the quarter-final stage to Arsenal and losing both the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals to Barcelona. To compound matters, Barcelona reclaimed the La Liga title, leaving Madrid without a major domestic or European trophy.
Madrid’s decision to bring in Alonso was aided by a pre-existing agreement with Leverkusen, allowing him to depart if approached by one of his former clubs — Real Madrid, Liverpool, or Bayern Munich.
One of Alonso’s key challenges will be restoring balance to a squad brimming with attacking talent. Despite the arrival of Kylian Mbappé last summer and his impressive 31 La Liga goals — likely to earn him the European Golden Shoe — Ancelotti struggled to integrate the French star alongside Vinícius Júnior without upsetting the team’s equilibrium. The team suffered 14 defeats this season, a stark contrast to their only two losses in the previous campaign.
Alonso, known for his tactical intelligence and organizational skills, brings a wealth of experience from playing under elite coaches like Pep Guardiola, José Mourinho, and Vicente del Bosque. He enjoyed immense success as a player, winning the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain.
After retiring in 2017, he began his coaching career within Real Madrid and Real Sociedad’s youth setups before taking over at Bayer Leverkusen in 2022.
Alonso will begin shaping his Madrid squad immediately. The club has already secured young defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth and is in advanced talks to sign Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer, aiming to finalize the deal before the Club World Cup.
Madrid will kick off their Club World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal on June 18 in Miami — offering fans the first glimpse of Alonso’s new-look side and potentially the beginning of a new era at the Bernabéu.
