Probe Back to Royalty: Alonso's Inquiry Report
Real Madrid welcomes Xabi Alonso's return as head coach
Madrid (dpa) - Just a day after the emotional farewell of Carlo Ancelotti from the hallowed Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Real Madrid has announced its long-awaited news: Xabi Alonso is rejoining the Royal Club as a coach. This time, he takes over from Ancelotti, who guided him during his playing days at Real.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, with Alonso set to be officially presented on Monday at 12:30 PM in the Ciudad Real Madrid. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will welcome Alonso for the signing ceremony before he takes charge of the team. Alonso's contract will begin on June 1st, allowing him to coach the team with superstars like Kylian Mbappé and Antonio Rüdiger at the Club World Cup, which runs from June 14 to July 13 in the USA.
Alonso's contract at Bayer Leverkusen, where he reached the Europa League final and won the championship and DFB Cup in the 2023/24 season, was due to run for another year. No details about the transfer have been released, but reports suggest that the fee could be somewhere between 12 and 15 million euros. Erik ten Hag is reportedly set to replace Alonso at Bayer.
Real finished second in the Primera División last season, behind FC Barcelona. However, their ambitions pale in comparison to those of Bayer, who clinched their first-ever Bundesliga title under Alonso last season. Meanwhile, Real Madrid are still grappling with the loss of all four El Clásicos against Barcelona last season, leading to parting ways with Ancelotti before the end of his contract.
Alonso began his coaching career in Real Madrid's youth sector, where he led the U13 team to two titles in the 2018/2019 season. In February, Real Madrid praised Alonso as one of the greatest legends of the club and world football. He will now return as one of the world's best coaches to lead Real Madrid.
Comunicado Oficial: Xabi Alonso.#RealMadrid | #WelcomeXabi— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 25, 2025
During his playing career, Alonso played for Real Madrid from 2009 to 2014 and won six titles with them, including the Champions League in 2014 under Ancelotti. Alonso's coaching reputation is already being compared to illustrious names such as Zinedine Zidane, Jose Mourinho, Vicente del Bosque, Fabio Capello, and even former German coaches Jupp Heynckes and Bernd Schuster.
The club's title-focused culture means that Alonso will need to deliver results. While a season without a title might be acceptable at Bayer, it is unacceptable at Real Madrid. It remains to be seen how the squad will change, although Florian Wirtz, who played under Alonso at Leverkusen, is rumored to be joining Liverpool instead.
The Werkself under Alonso never gave up and earned a reputation for being a last-minute team. In the 2023/24 season, they did not lose a single Bundesliga game, while in the last season, Bayer remained unbeaten away. Alonso's ability to handle superstars will be crucial in achieving success at Real Madrid.
Footnotes:[1] Real Madrid announcement (official website)[2] Real Madrid U14 team (Real Madrid official website)[3] Bayer Leverkusen official website[5] Xabi Alonso profile (Transfermarkt)
Xabi Alonso's coaching skills will be tested as he takes on the challenge of leading Real Madrid's football team, known for their title-focused culture. With his return to the club, Alonso will certainly bring his proven success in sports, particularly in football, as he aims to replicate his past performances on the radio waves.
As Alonso prepares to coach Real Madrid, he will be working with superstars such as Kylian Mbappé and Antonio Rüdiger, giving him the opportunity to demonstrate his coaching abilities in high-pressure situations, much like the ones he experienced during his playing days at the club.
