Madrid Appoint Alonso As Ancelotti’s Successor

Xabi Alonso has been confirmed as Real Madrid’s new head coach, taking over from Carlo Ancelotti for this summer’s Club World Cup.

The 43-year-old, who made 236 appearances for Madrid as a player and began his coaching career at the club’s academy, joins Madrid after an impressive three-year spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga.

Having put pen to paper on a three-year deal until June 2028, he will take charge of the team starting with next month’s Club World Cup in the United States, ahead of the 2025-26 season and will be presented as Madrid coach on Monday.

“Alonso is one of the biggest legends of Real Madrid and world football. He defended our shirt in 236 official games between 2009 and 2014. He won six titles during this time:

the 10th European Cup in Lisbon, one European Super Cup, one league title, two Spanish Cups and one Spanish Super Cup,” the club said in a statement.

“Now he’s returning to Real Madrid as one of the best coaches in the world after making history with Bayer Leverkusen,” the club said.