Alonso Confirms Departure After Historic Bundesliga Success
Xabi Alonso has officially announced that he will step down as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season. The statement, made during a press conference ahead of the club’s final home match against Borussia Dortmund, marks the end of a transformative tenure in which Alonso led Leverkusen to an unprecedented level of success.
Alonso, who joined Leverkusen in 2022, achieved the club’s first-ever Bundesliga title in a remarkable unbeaten campaign. Under his leadership, Leverkusen also secured a domestic cup victory, nearly completing a historic treble before a narrow loss to Atalanta in the Europa League final.
“This week, the club and I have agreed that these are going to be my last two games as Bayer Leverkusen coach,” Alonso told reporters. “This is a moment with mixed emotions. This is not a moment to talk about the future.”
Return to Madrid on the Horizon
While Alonso refrained from confirming his next move, reports from Sky in Germany indicate that he is set to return to Real Madrid—where he starred as a player—to succeed current head coach Carlo Ancelotti. Leverkusen has reportedly agreed to release Alonso from his contract, which was originally set to run until 2026, allowing him to join Madrid without a transfer fee.
Speculation around Alonso’s future intensified after his standout achievements in Germany and intensified following Jurgen Klopp’s departure from Liverpool, where Alonso was also seen as a potential replacement. However, the Premier League club ultimately chose Arne Slot to take over.
Alonso noted that he would not discuss his future until after the season’s final match against Mainz on May 17. “When the season is wrapped, then it will be the moment for the next thing. Not the moment for that,” he said.
Tributes and Transitions
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who once coached Alonso at Bayern Munich, praised his former player’s rapid development as a top-tier manager. “The impact on Leverkusen has been unbelievable,” Guardiola remarked. “All the managers who have had the pleasure to have him as a player realised he’d be a manager.”
He highlighted Alonso’s ability to challenge Bayern Munich’s dominance and credited him with improving Leverkusen’s overall play and player development. “They should be so proud of this partnership they had for two-three years,” Guardiola added.
Sunday’s home fixture against Dortmund is expected to be a celebratory send-off for Alonso and several players. The club’s fans will bid farewell to the man who delivered the most successful season in their history.
Uncertainty at Real Madrid and Brazil’s Interest in Ancelotti
The move to Madrid appears increasingly likely as Carlo Ancelotti’s future at the club remains unclear. Although still in contention for LaLiga, Real Madrid trail leaders Barcelona by four points with four matches remaining—including a pivotal clash between the two teams this Sunday.
Ancelotti, who guided Madrid to a Champions League and LaLiga double last year, is reportedly back in negotiations with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) over a potential appointment as head coach. Talks had recently stalled, but sources close to the discussions told Sky Sports News that a resolution could come early next week.
CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues confirmed that Brazil will announce their new coach “soon,” leaving Ancelotti’s fate hanging in the balance. Real Madrid, under president Florentino Perez, has not yet rushed a decision, but with Alonso’s availability now confirmed, the transition may accelerate.