Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of this season. This leaves the door wide open for a potential Real Madrid return. Initially not made public, the announcement came during a Friday news conference that Alonso held. He announced his intention to conclude his time with a suitable send-off at the club’s last home match versus Borussia Dortmund.
Alonso, 42, was appointed Bayer Leverkusen head coach in October 2022. Since then, he’s turned the team from relegation fodder into one of the top contenders in the Bundesliga. Speculation has intensified after, under his leadership, the club achieved their first-ever undefeated league campaign during the 2023-24 season. This incredible feat finished with a domestic double. This year, they finished as runners-up in the Bundesliga, cementing their status as one of the truly feared bulwarks in German sports.
Alonso’s tenure at Bayer Leverkusen will come to an end after the team’s remaining Bundesliga matches. He acknowledged this transition during his press conference, stating, “This week, the club and I have agreed that these two games will be my last as Bayer Leverkusen coach.” He added, “After Mainz, once the season is wrapped, it will be the moment for the next thing.”
A source from Real Madrid informed ESPN that Alonso is “close” to becoming the club’s new coach, with Carlo Ancelotti reportedly set to depart following Real Madrid’s final LaLiga game against Real Sociedad. The possibility of Alonso making a swoop back to Madrid has created a buzz among the fans and pundits across the globe.
Looking back on his stint at Leverkusen, Alonso reflected on all the difficulties and triumphs he’s faced thus far. “Where we started, in the first year, that was the most difficult season, because of the situation,” he noted. The second year was the historic one, a dream season. We made history. This season was the worst of all. We had to live up to it, with the icing on the cake playing the Champions League.
Despite the impressive accomplishments, Bayer Leverkusen faced setbacks, including a defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of 16. Despite this, Alonso’s leadership has made a permanent impact on the club and its fans. He underscored how important his connections with people in the organization became. His personal relationship with CEO Fernando Carro was instrumental in his decision to depart.
Aside from his tactical acumen and record of building successful teams through smart recruiting, he earned the admiration of some of football’s biggest names. Pep Guardiola remarked on Alonso’s journey and capabilities as a coach, stating, “All the managers who had all the opportunity, the pleasure as a player always knew he would be a manager.” Guardiola had previously admitted the challenge of playing against Bayern Munich at the same time, praising Alonso for his success with Leverkusen.
With Alonso’s departure now imminent, he has taken the time to reflect positively on his experience at Bayer Leverkusen. “It’s one of the reasons why last year I decided to stay because I felt really well [here],” he said. Perhaps that’s because he’s unashamedly focused on going out on top. He is clearly motivated to write a powerful last chapter to his coaching story with Leverkusen.
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