Xabi Alonso was appointed by Real Madrid on Sunday to take over as coach from Carlo Ancelotti and take charge of the club at the World Cup.
Real Madrid announced in a statement that “Xabi Alonso will lead Real Madrid for the next three seasons, starting on June 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.”
With the departure of veteran Italian coach Ancelotti, Madrid made a deal with former Brazilian international Alonso, who they have been inundated with for months.
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Alonso, 43, leaves Bayer Leverkusen after finishing second in the Bundesliga.
Alonso is one of Real Madrid’s biggest legends and a player in international football, said the Los Blancos’ statement.
“He wore our shirt in 236 games between 2009 and 2014. He also won six awards that year.
Alonso will be presented on Monday at 9:30 GMT.
With his team unbeaten in the top flight, the Spaniard made Leverkusen a target for Europe’s elite clubs as he led them to a league and German Cup double in the years 2023-2024.
If one of his former clubs, including Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich, wanted to hire him, Alonso and Leverkusen made an agreement in which case he could leave.
Madrid’s season was a letdown, with victories over the European Championship and the Intercontinental Cup coming after being defeated by Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final.
Real Madrid defeated Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals, reclaiming their position as the league’s king after their defeat, which left them without a major trophy.
Last summer, Real Madrid added French legend Kylian Mbappe, but manager Ancelotti struggled to add him to Vinicius Junior without destabilizing the situation.
Mbappe scored 31 La Liga goals, which should earn him the European Golden Shoe, but Alonso’s main priority will be to restore the team’s strength without compromising the attack.
Madrid dropped to 14 defeats this season after losing two matches throughout the previous campaign.
La Decima
Despite their struggles this season, Alonso will succeed one of Madrid’s most successful managers.
In Los Blancos’ two six-year managerial dynasties, Ancelotti, 65, won 15 titles.
Alonso was included in the Italian’s squad for the Champions League final, which included La Decima, which was his 10th title, in 2014, despite receiving a suspension for the final.
Alonso is regarded as tactically adept and an excellent organiser thanks to his involvement in Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Vicente del Bosque, and other players. He is also a top-notch organiser.
As a result of his help to La Roja dominate the international scene, the midfielder won two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup with Spain.
Before being hired by Bayer Leverkusen in 2022, he coached Real Madrid and Real Sociedad at the youth level before retiring in 2017.
Dean Huijsen, a defensive defender from Bournemouth, has already been signed by Real Madrid, and Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to follow. His contract expires at Anfield.
Before the Club World Cup this summer, which will be Alonso’s first opportunity to win silverware, Madrid are attempting to import the England international.
In their opening game of the lucrative summer tournament, Real Madrid will face Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in Miami on June 18. This will be Alonso’s first appearance there.
Source: Channels TV
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