Xabi Alonso has officially been appointed as the new head coach of Real Madrid, succeeding Carlo Ancelotti at the helm of the Spanish club.
The 43-year-old Spaniard joins from Bayer Leverkusen, where he enjoyed a highly successful spell. Alonso has signed a contract at the Santiago Bernabéu running through mid-2028.
😎 @XabiAlonso #WelcomeXabi pic.twitter.com/sQXXIyXxGN
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 25, 2025
His move to Madrid had been widely anticipated in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Alonso confirmed his departure from Leverkusen, where he had been in charge since October 2022. It was his first senior managerial role following earlier coaching stints with Real Sociedad B and Real Madrid’s U14 team.
During his time at Leverkusen, Alonso made history by guiding the club to its first-ever Bundesliga title. He also secured the DFB-Pokal and the German Supercup. However, this season the domestic crown went to Bayern Munich. Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is expected to take over at Leverkusen.
As a player, Alonso is well-remembered at Real Madrid. Between 2009 and 2014, he made 236 appearances for Los Blancos, winning five major trophies, including the 2014 UEFA Champions League.
Alonso will be officially unveiled on Monday afternoon. His first match in charge will come at the FIFA Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13.
