Real Madrid appoint Xabi Alonso as new head coach

Real Madrid have officially appointed Xabi Alonso as their new head coach.

The 43-year-old has penned a three-year contract following his departure from Bayer Leverkusen, where he spent two and a half years in his first senior managerial role.

Alonso succeeds Carlo Ancelotti, the five-time Champions League winner, who has left the Bernabeu after his second spell to become head coach of the Brazil national team.

Alonso’s first matches in charge will be at the Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States next month.

Real Madrid will compete in Group H alongside Al Hilal, Pachuca, and Red Bull Salzburg.

Alonso led Leverkusen to a historic Bundesliga title – their first ever – and the DFB-Pokal during an unbeaten domestic campaign in the 2023/24 season.

🙌 #WelcomeXabi 🙌 pic.twitter.com/dbeOEnmHof
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 25, 2025

Leverkusen’s only defeat that season came in the Europa League final against Atalanta, while their impressive 462-day unbeaten run in domestic competitions ended with a loss to RB Leipzig in September 2024.

In the 2024/25 season, Leverkusen finished second in the Bundesliga behind Bayern Munich but were eliminated from the Champions League in the round of 16 following a 5-0 aggregate defeat by Bayern.

Alonso’s playing career began at Real Sociedad, before spells at Liverpool under Rafael Benítez and Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola.

He joined Real Madrid from Liverpool in 2009, making 236 appearances and winning La Liga, the Champions League, and two Copa del Rey titles.

Internationally, Alonso won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship twice – in 2008 and 2012 – with Spain.

After retiring in 2017, Alonso began his coaching career with Real Sociedad B in 2019 before taking over Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022.

He inherited a team in the relegation zone and guided them to a sixth-place finish in his first season. In May 2023, he was rewarded with a contract extension until June 2026.