Real Madrid has reached an agreement with Xabi Alonso to become the club’s next head coach, marking a significant homecoming for the former midfield maestro.
Xabi Alonso Set to Lead Real Madrid After FIFA Club World Cup
According to reports from MARCA and other sources, Alonso will sign a three-year contract and officially take charge after the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this summer.
Alonso, 43, has enjoyed a meteoric rise in management since taking over at Bayer Leverkusen in 2022.
He led the German club to their first-ever Bundesliga title in the 2023–24 season, completing an unbeaten domestic campaign and adding the DFB-Pokal to secure a historic double.
His tactical acumen and calm leadership have made him one of Europe’s most sought-after young coaches.
The move also signals the end of Carlo Ancelotti’s second spell at the Bernabéu.
The Italian manager, who has delivered 15 trophies across two tenures, will depart by mutual agreement after the club’s final home game on May 25.
Ancelotti is expected to take over the Brazil national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Alonso will bring trusted assistant Sebas Parrilla, a colleague from his days coaching Real Madrid’s youth academy.
Physical trainer Alberto Encinas will also join the coaching staff, potentially replacing current trainer Antonio Pintus, while goalkeeper coach Luis Llopis will remain.
Although Alonso’s opinions on transfers are valued, the club will retain final decision-making authority.
Real Madrid is currently targeting reinforcements including a left-back, a center-back, and a midfielder, aligning with Alonso’s assessment of the team’s needs.
Alonso’s return to Madrid is more than a tactical shift—it’s an emotional reunion. He made 236 appearances for Los Blancos between 2009 and 2014, winning La Liga, the Champions League, and two Copas del Rey.
Now, he returns not as a player, but as the architect of the club’s next chapter.
With marquee signings like Kylian Mbappé and Trent Alexander-Arnold arriving, expectations are sky-high.
Alonso’s challenge will be to blend star power with structure, reignite the team’s chemistry, and bring fresh energy to a squad hungry for silverware.
The official announcement is expected on May 25, following Ancelotti’s farewell. For Real Madrid fans, the countdown to a new era has begun
