Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed Xabi Alonso will leave the club at the end of the season ahead of his anticipated move to Real Madrid.
talkSPORT understands former Los Blancos star Alonso has already agreed to return to the Bernabeu as their new manager this summer after winning a Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal with Leverkusen in 2024.
Alonso won Leverkusen’s first ever Bundesliga titleAFPLeverkusen say they have agreed to Alonso’s request to terminate his contract early, so he can make to move to Madrid.
And in a lengthy statement they thanked the boss for the success he brought to the club in his two-and-a-half years in charge – including winning the Bundesliga title last season for the first time in their history, and without losing a game.
Club CEO Fernando Carro said: “Bayer 04 have achieved lasting recognition in the football world through the targeted success under Xabi Alonso. Bringing the Meisterschale to Leverkusen unbeaten plus winning the DFB Pokal, reaching the Europa League final and winning the Supercup makes us very proud.”
Sporting managing director Simon Rolfes added: “The Alonso era is a milestone in the development of Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Together with Xabi, we have put together a team that has impressed the whole football world through quality on the pitch and mentality.
“We are proud of the big steps forward and the standing of the club today and wish Xabi all the best in his future roles. I’m sure our paths will often cross again.”
It’s been a remarkable rise for Alonso, who is set to take the top job at Real Madrid as only the second appointment in his short coaching career.
Current Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is set to depart Madrid for the second time – with the iconic Italian widely expected to take the Brazil job.
Madrid are understood to be planning a grand farewell for their final home game of the season – against Real Sociedad on May 25.
Alonso will get his chance to say farewell to Leverkusen fans at their final home game of the season this weekend against Borussia Dortmund.
“I owe great thanks to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, my players and staff, all the employees of the club and last but not least the fantastic fans,” reads a statement from the coach.
Alonso will be the new Real Madrid manager after tasting trophy success in his first senior coaching jon with LeverkusenAFP“Our success was the result of an outstanding team performance. This club, who showed exceptional trust in me, very much deserved to win the German league title for the first time.
“My thanks and admiration go to everybody who helped to make this triumph happen, including the DFB Pokal win in Berlin. Bayer 04 are ready for the future. The positive path will continue and I will be excited to follow it.”
Ancelotti delivered two LaLiga titles and two Champions League crowns after joining the club for a second stint as manager in 2021.
Last season, Madrid completed the treble as Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior starred.
And with the addition of Kylian Mbappe in the summer transfer window, Madrid were expected to sweep every competition they entered.
But in reality, Ancelotti’s side have failed to improve or even maintain last campaign’s level.
Ancelotti managed Alonso at Real Madrid and Bayern MunichGetty Ancelotti is expected to say goodbye on May 25AFPThey crashed out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals after being thrashed by Arsenal and their LaLiga hopes are hanging by a thread as Barcelona continue to thrive domestically.
A narrow defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final signalled the end for Ancelotti – who is understood to been given his marching orders in a meeting with Madrid’s hierarchy afterwards.
Alonso played for Madrid from 2009 to 2014 where he won the LaLiga, a Champions League and two Spanish Cups.
In 2017, the former Liverpool midfielder retired and entered the managerial scene two years later as Real Sociedad B head coach, where he remained until 2022.
He returned to Germany that year, but not to Bayern Munich – his last club as a player.
Alonso joined Leverkusen in October when the side were in the relegation zone.
He was the catalyst behind their ascension to a sixth place finish in the Bundesliga, which earned a Europa League spot for the following campaign.
During the 2023/24 season, he implemented a 3-4-3 formation, placing an emphasis on being more comfortable in possession, building long passing sequences, rather than relying on their previous counter attacking style.
That season, Leverkusen went undefeated on their way to the Bundesliga title with 28 wins and six draws. while also picking up a German Cup and finishing runners-up in the Europa League.
However, Alonso failed in his title defence as Bayern Munich recently won the league with multiple games to spare.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold set to join Madrid, fans will be eager to see how the right-back is implemented.
Will Alonso play the England international as a traditional right-back or will he stay truthful to his 3-4-3 formation?
Questions also arise when thinking about how the 43-year-old will introduce fluidity in the front three of Mbappe, Vinicius and Rodrygo – who have struggled to mesh previously.
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