Real Madrid confirm Alonso is returning as 'one of the best coaches in the world'

Xabi Alonso is returning to Real Madrid to take over a club that failed to meet expectations this season.

The Spanish powerhouse announced the hiring of Alonso on Sunday to replace Carlo Ancelotti, who is leaving to take over the Brazil job. Alonso will take over on June 1 and will be given a contract through June 2028, the club said.

He's to be presented as coach on Monday.

The 65-year-old Ancelotti is departing after four mostly successful seasons with Madrid. He bid a tearful farewell on Saturday in the team’s final Spanish league match. Ancelotti’s contract ran to the end of next season, but the club confirmed his departure on Friday after he had already been announced as the next Brazil coach.

Madrid began the season by winning the UEFA Super Cup title but mostly struggled since then, failing to lift another trophy and losing all four "clásico” matches against rival Barcelona, which clinched a league and cup double.

The 43-year-old Alonso is returning to a familiar environment.

"Alonso is one of the biggest legends of Real Madrid and world football. He defended our shirt in 236 official games between 2009 and 2014. He won six titles during this time: the 10th European Cup in Lisbon, one European Super Cup, one league title, two Spanish Cups and one Spanish Super Cup,” the club said.

"Now he's returning to Real Madrid as one of the best coaches in the world after making history with Bayer Leverkusen.”

As coach, Alonso Leverkusen to an unprecedented German league and cup double last year in his first full season after taking over the team when it was in the Bundesliga’s relegation zone the season before.

His team remains the only one to complete a whole Bundesliga campaign unbeaten. Leverkusen’s only defeat in 2023-24 was to Atalanta in the Europa League final, and it bounced back three days later by winning the 2024 German Cup.

Leverkusen’s 35-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga ended in August 2024 with a 3-2 loss at home to Leipzig, against whom Alonso’s team uncharacteristically squandered a two-goal lead.

"You didn’t just train us - you inspired us,” Leverkusen captain Granit Xhaka wrote on Instagram after Alonso confirmed his departure. "We’ll carry your lessons far beyond the field.”

As a player for Spain and Madrid, Alonso displayed an understanding of the game and technical skills that created time and space for himself, and opportunities for others. Real Sociedad and Liverpool previously benefited from his intelligence in midfield. He helped the latter to the Champions League title in 2005.

Alonso starred as a player as Madrid won a Spanish league title in 2012 and the 2014 Champions League before leaving for three Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich.

Associated Press