Real Madrid will reportedly appoint 41-year-old Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement next year.
According to a report on Radio MARCA, Xabi Alonso will be the next manager of Real Madrid. The Merengues have earmarked the 41-year-old, currently at Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement. The Bayer Leverkusen boss will likely begin his work at Real Madrid ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Xabi Alonso has done exceedingly well since stepping into the managerial world a few years ago. A legendary footballer, he turned out for high-profile clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, achieving success everywhere. The Spaniard won 17 trophies in his career, including three with his national side (1 World Cup, 2 European Championships).
Alonso’s playing career ended in 2017, as he retired at the end of the 2016/17 season with Bayern Munich. The 41-year-old then entered the managerial world by taking charge of Real Madrid’s Under-14 team. But he grew in prominence after taking charge of Real Sociedad’s reserve side in 2019.
The former Spanish international spent three years with La Real before Bayer Leverkusen came calling in 2022. And Alonso hit the ground running at BayArena, even though he failed to clinch a top-four finish last season. But he took Die Werkself deep into the UEFA Europa League and has started the new term strongly.
Alonso has guided Bayer Leverkusen to the top of the Bundesliga table, with only Bayern Munich ahead of his team on goal difference. So, it was only a matter of time before a high-profile club came calling. Meanwhile, recent reports had linked the 41-year-old with Liverpool and Real Madrid. But the Merengues have won the race to sign him.
The report by Radio MARCA claims that Alonso will take charge of Real Madrid after the ongoing season ends. Carlo Ancelotti will likely depart from the Santiago Bernabeu, vacating the berth for his former charge. The update comes in the wake of suggestions that he has been keen on joining Real Madrid.
Alonso knows the club well and should manage to stamp his authority at the Santiago Bernabeu. His style of play should bring the best out of the young crop of players at Real Madrid. But it will be interesting to see if Ancelotti leaves at the end of the 2023/24 season to open up the spot for the 41-year-old Bayer Leverkusen boss.