Spanish giants Real Madrid on Sunday confirmed former Spain international Xabi Alonso as their new manager, Afrosport reports.
Alonso, who spent five years as a Madrid player and made 236 appearances, succeeds Italian tactician Carlo Ancelotti, who is the new head coach of Brazil and oversaw his last game at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday—a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad.
The 43-year-old announced his decision to leave Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month and has signed a three-year deal until June 2028 with Los Blancos.
#WelcomeXabi
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 25, 2025
Alonso won six trophies as a player with Real Madrid, including La Liga and the Champions League, before securing a move to German heavyweights Bayern Munich.
He began his coaching career at Madrid’s U14 team, followed by a three-year stint as head coach of the Sociedad B team. The Spaniard then secured a move to manage Leverkusen, leading the German side to three titles, including their first-ever Bundesliga title, which he claimed with an unbeaten record, and the German Super Cup.
Alonso will be introduced as Real Madrid’s new manager at their training ground on Monday and will lead Los Blancos to the Club World Cup in the United States, with their first group game against Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal on 18 June.
Madrid, drawn in Group H, will also play Mexico’s Pachuca and RB Salzburg of Austria in the first round.
