Xabi Alonso is preparing his suitcases to return to where he made history as a player. Champion with Bayer Leverkusen and the mastermind behind one of the greatest Bundesliga seasons of the last decades, the Spaniard coach confirmed that he will leave the German club at the end of the 2024/25 season. The destination: Real Madrid. The transfer had already been treated as an open secret behind the scenes in European soccer. Now it's official, and the new Merengue era begins with the signing of one of the most promising trainers of the time.
Bayer Leverkusen made the announcement this Friday, in an emotionally charged and grateful statement. "Following two and a half incredible years that represent the most successful era in our club's history, our head coach Xabi Alonso will depart Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the conclusion of the season," the club shared on social media. A long-awaited goodbye, yes, but no less effective. And that's where our analysis starts.
A departure with an appointed date
Xabi Alonso will also lead Leverkusen in the upcoming games against Borussia Dortmund (May 12) and Mainz (May 17), in the closing stage of the 2024/25 Bundesliga. Bayern Munich have already been confirmed champions, and Leverkusen, who are runners-up, are finishing the season off. But the season of the Spanish trainer is already a written memory. Not for the result, but for the style, the courage, and the transformation that he brought to a side who had always played second fiddle and were doomed to relegation when he stepped in.
Why he was to be relieved was explained by Alonso himself: "The club and myself agreed those are my last two matches in charge of the team.". I believe it's time to leave and today is the day to declare it. Not the day to talk about tomorrow, because what we want to do is farewell here on Sunday," he asserted the coach. A declaration which carries the sense of a man who knows that he's going to have to deal with the biggest challenge in his career: leading Real Madrid.
Real Madrid sets the scene for Ancelotti's goodbye
If Xabi Alonso does have a settled destination in place, the door had been left open with the departure very close for Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian coach is expected to issue a formal statement for his exit at Real Madrid once the clásico against Barcelona this Sunday reaches the 35th round of LaLiga. According to The Athletic as well as newspaper Marca, the decision will be revealed by next Wednesday, regardless of the result. That is, even if Real beats Barça, no going back. The wheel has turned.
Ancelotti will apparently be the trainer of the world's greatest national team: Brazil, that is seeking to claim its sixth World Cup championship in 2026. The Italian will be tasked with building a competitive squad with barely more than a year to go before the tournament begins.
Besides, Ancelotti and Alonso's relationship goes beyond the professional level. They know one another, having worked together at Real and Bayern. The future Real Madrid will be a changing team. It is not just the departure of Ancelotti, but also about the rejuvenation of the team, the redefinition of leadership, and the rebuilding of the technical project for the next five years.
With names like Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, Tchouaméni, and Camavinga, the young core is already in place. What’s missing is someone to bring unity and long-term vision and that mission now falls to Xabi Alonso. With Carlo Ancelotti leaving and Xabi Alonso arriving at Real Madrid, we’re witnessing a symbolic generational shift in the technical leadership of one of the biggest clubs in the world. It's the culmination of a winning period and the beginning of a new era, replete with hopes, uncertainties, and promises.