Real Madrid has officially sealed a deal with Xabi Alonso, who will take the helm as the club’s new manager until June 2028, marking the end of Carlo Ancelotti’s illustrious tenure. The announcement, confirmed by multiple sources, signals the dawn of a new era at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Alonso, 43, a former Real Madrid midfielder and Champions League winner with the club in 2014, steps into the role after a transformative three-year stint at Bayer Leverkusen. There, he led the German side to their first-ever Bundesliga title in 2024, an unbeaten league campaign, and the DFB-Pokal, boasting an impressive 64% win rate across 138 matches. His appointment fulfills long-standing speculation, with talks finalized following Real Madrid’s Champions League exit to Arsenal last month.
Carlo Ancelotti, 65, will receive a heartfelt farewell from the Bernabéu faithful on May 25, 2025, after the final LaLiga match against Real Sociedad. The Italian, who secured 15 trophies across two spells, including three Champions Leagues and two LaLiga titles, leaves as the club’s most decorated manager. Despite a trophyless 2024-25 season, marked by losses in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercup finals to Barcelona and a four-point deficit in LaLiga, Ancelotti’s legacy remains untarnished. He is reportedly set to manage Brazil for the 2026 World Cup, following an amicable agreement with Real Madrid.
The transition, described as a “changing of the guard,” sees Alonso return to a club where he made 236 appearances as a player. He is expected to bring trusted assistants Sebas Parrilla and fitness coach Alberto Encinas, with plans to strengthen the squad in midfield and defense, targeting players like Girona’s Miguel Gutierrez and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi. A free transfer for Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is also reportedly secured.
As Ancelotti prepares for a grand send-off, Alonso’s arrival promises a fresh chapter for Los Blancos, blending his tactical acumen with deep club roots. Fans eagerly await his first test at the Club World Cup in June, where interim coach Santiago Solari may bridge the gap until Alonso’s pre-season start.