Real Madrid have officially appointed Xabi Alonso as their new head coach, confirming the Spaniard will take over from Carlo Ancelotti.
The announcement was made on Sunday, marking a major move for the former Bayer Leverkusen boss, who enjoyed a successful stint in Germany, clinching the Bundesliga title, the German Cup, and the Super Cup.
Despite significant interest last summer from Liverpool and Bayern Munich, Alonso opted to remain with Leverkusen for one more campaign, where he had begun carving out his reputation as a top manager.
Liverpool ultimately brought in Arne Slot, while Bayern turned to Vincent Kompany.
Throughout that period, Real Madrid remained quietly in the background, maintaining a close relationship with Alonso and initiating ongoing discussions that have now culminated in his appointment ahead of the Club World Cup.
In an official club statement, Real Madrid announced, “Real Madrid C.F. announces that Xabi Alonso will be the coach of Real Madrid for the next three seasons, from June 1st, 2025 to June 30th, 2028.
“Tomorrow at 12:30 CET, Xabi Alonso will be presented as Real Madrid’s new coach in a ceremony that will take place at Ciudad Real Madrid.
“Beforehand, the president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, will receive Xabi Alonso for the protocol act of signing the contract that links our new coach with the club for the next three seasons.
“After the presentation, Xabi Alonso will attend the media in the press room of Ciudad Real Madrid.”
The presentation marks the beginning of a new chapter for Alonso, who returns to the club where he once starred as a midfielder, now tasked with leading Los Blancos from the dugout.