Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, paving the way for an emotional return to Real Madrid — with strong indications that he will succeed Carlo Ancelotti in the Spanish capital.
The 43-year-old, who led Leverkusen to a historic Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double last season, announced his decision during a press conference on Friday. Spanish football pundit and BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague reports that Alonso is primed to take the reins at Madrid, although the official announcement remains pending.
“This week the club and I agreed that these last two matches will be my final games as Bayer Leverkusen manager,” Alonso stated. “It’s not the time to speak too much about what’s next. We want to enjoy the moment, say a proper goodbye on Sunday — for the players, for myself, and for this incredible journey.”
An emotional Alonso, who has overseen a remarkable transformation at the BayArena since arriving in October 2022, reflected fondly on his tenure. “This stadium has given me unforgettable memories and shaped me as a coach,” he added.
Leverkusen host Borussia Dortmund on Sunday before closing their campaign away to Mainz on 17 May. Their recent draw at Freiburg ended their hopes of retaining the Bundesliga title, which has now returned to the familiar hands of Bayern Munich.
Alonso, a Champions League winner as a player with Liverpool and Madrid, has been the subject of considerable speculation over the past year. Having also drawn interest from Liverpool and Bayern Munich, he had previously pledged his short-term future to Leverkusen, stating in March 2024 that he was committed to the club.
At that time, club CEO Fernando Carro maintained that Alonso was “comfortable” in Leverkusen and already laying groundwork for the following season. But with Ancelotti likely to accept an offer to manage Brazil ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the path appears clear for Alonso’s return to the Bernabéu.
Ancelotti, in his second spell at Madrid, has already lifted the Champions League three times with Los Blancos. However, this term has fallen short of expectations — Madrid exited the Champions League at the round of 16 and are trailing Barcelona in the title race with four fixtures left, including a pivotal El Clásico on Sunday.
For Alonso, the impending move marks a full-circle moment. After hanging up his boots in 2017 following a decorated stint at Bayern, he cut his coaching teeth with Real Madrid’s U14s before proving his credentials with Real Sociedad B. His leap to senior management came in October 2022, when he took over a struggling Leverkusen side sitting second from bottom.
From there, he masterminded a sensational rise — lifting the club to a sixth-placed finish in his debut campaign, then achieving a domestic double in his first full season. Leverkusen also reached the Europa League final under his watch, falling to Atalanta in what was their only defeat in 53 matches across all competitions last season.
While this term has seen a drop-off — including early exits from the Champions League and German Cup — Alonso’s impact on Leverkusen’s identity, confidence, and stature in Europe is undeniable.
As he prepares to bid farewell to the Bundesliga, the next chapter of Alonso’s managerial career seems destined to begin at the very club where his elegance and intelligence first shone in midfield.
Will Alonso thrive under the white-hot spotlight of the Bernabéu as a manager the same way he did as a player?
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