Xabi Alonso will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season and is expected to become the new head coach of Real Madrid. The 42-year-old informed his team of his decision this week. His move comes as current coach Carlo Ancelotti prepares to take over the Brazilian national team. This change signals a big shift in leadership at Madrid and marks the end of one era and the start of another.
Alonso, who once played for Real Madrid, returns with high expectations. Madrid believes his success in Germany proves he is ready for this role. The change has been in the making for months, and now it looks certain.
New Chapter for Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez, supports Alonso’s vision for the club. After winning the Bundesliga and German Cup with Leverkusen, Alonso has shown he can build strong teams. Leverkusen also respected their agreement with Alonso, allowing him to leave without problems.
Alonso now faces a huge task. Madrid’s fans want trophies. The board expects success. The pressure will be high from the first day.
Managing Stars and Rising Talent
One of Alonso’s biggest challenges will be handling Real Madrid’s changing squad. Kylian Mbappé is set to join the team this summer. Vinicius Jr. is now a leader on the pitch. Young talents like Endrick and Arda Güler are also waiting for their moment to shine.
Alonso will need to balance experience and youth. He must also make tough decisions about older players. At Madrid, ideas are not enough—only results matter.
Before Alonso officially begins, Madrid still has a major test. The team faces FC Barcelona this Sunday. A win is crucial to stay in the La Liga title race. A loss would leave Barcelona seven points ahead, with only three matches left.
Ancelotti’s Final Days at Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti’s second spell at Madrid is coming to an end. The Italian coach has won 15 trophies with the club—more than any other manager in its history. He brought calm and control during a time of change. Now, he will move on to coach Brazil’s national team.
His legacy at Madrid is clear. He gave the club dignity, discipline, and many wins. But recent months have been hard. The team struggled with injuries and squad depth. Behind the scenes, disagreements grew over tactics and transfers.
Tensions Behind the Scenes
When Ancelotti returned in 2021, the club lacked clear direction. Players like Sergio Ramos and Raphaël Varane had left. The stadium was under renovation. Yet, he still led Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double.
But the failure to refresh the squad caused problems later. As expectations rose, so did pressure. Kylian Mbappé’s upcoming arrival added more weight. Inside the club, some leaders began to doubt Ancelotti’s methods.
In public, he stayed calm. But privately, he felt unsupported. His request for players like Kyle Walker was denied. Meanwhile, fans noticed that young stars were not getting enough chances.
A Difficult Dressing Room
Inside the dressing room, things got tense. Vinicius and Mbappé both wanted to be the team’s star. While there was no fight, their relationship seemed cold on the field. Ancelotti struggled to manage the different personalities.
He admitted that this was one of the hardest teams he ever led. His press talks became shorter. Some saw this as a sign he was ready to leave. Still, he always said, “I will stay until the club no longer wants me.”
Brazil Awaits Ancelotti’s Arrival
Talks between Ancelotti and Brazil’s football federation moved quickly. Meetings took place in London and Madrid. Brazil wants him to take over before the next World Cup qualifiers.
Ancelotti asked for time until the end of the season. Financial issues still need to be settled. Madrid might not want to pay his full contract. Ancelotti says the choice to split came from the club.
There are even talks that someone like Santi Solari could lead Madrid at the Club World Cup. That would allow Alonso to focus fully on the next league season.
There is also interest in Ancelotti’s son, Davide. He has worked with his father at clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli, and Madrid. Now, he may start his own career as a head coach. Several clubs are already watching him closely.