Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, with the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich midfielder expected to join another of his old sides, Real Madrid.
“The 2024 German champions, cup winners, and Supercup winners have granted the Spaniard’s request to terminate his contract, originally valid until summer 2026, after the end of this season,” a statement from Bayer Leverkusen said. “Bayer 04 will announce a successor as head coach in due course.”
“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Bayer Leverkusen, my players and staff, everyone at the club, and, last but not least, the fantastic fans,” Alonso said. “Our success was the result of an outstanding team performance.
“This club, which has placed extraordinary trust in me, thoroughly deserves to win the German championship for the first time.
“My thanks and affection go to everyone who helped make this triumph a reality, including the cup victory in Berlin. Bayer 04 is ready for the future. This positive trajectory will continue, and I will follow it with interest.”
“Together with Xabi, we have assembled a team that has impressed the entire football world with its sporting quality and mentality,” managing director for sport Simon Rolfes said.
“We are proud of the club’s significant progress and current standing and wish Xabi all the best in his future endeavors. I am sure our paths will cross again.”
(Image: Photo by Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)
“Together with Xabi Alonso, we have written a success story the likes of which has never been seen before in German football, simply by winning the championship without a loss,” Werner Wenning, the chairman of the Bayer 04 Shareholders’ Committee, added.
“As a coach, he was always an outstanding ambassador, both for our club and for the entire Bundesliga. We are very grateful to Xabi Alonso for that.”
“The successes achieved under Xabi Alonso’s leadership have earned Bayer 04 lasting recognition in the football world,” Fernando Carro, Leverkusen CEO, said. “Bringing the championship trophy back to Leverkusen undefeated, as well as the DFB Cup victory, reaching the Europa League final, and winning the Supercup — we are very proud of that.”
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Alonso has masterminded a complete turnaround at Bayer Leverkusen. The German side was under threat of dropping into the second tier when he took over but then went a whole Bundesliga season unbeaten last year.
Sticking with Bayer Leverkusen even when he was tipped to move on last summer, the German side has been beaten to the league title by Harry Kane and Bayern Munich this time around. But Leverkusen is still set to return to the Champions League again and is sitting comfortably in second spot in the standings.
Liverpool.com says: In another world, Arne Slot would have made a slow start to life at Anfield and fans would have been clamoring for Alonso. Instead, Liverpool can relax safe in the knowledge that it made the perfect choice when it came to replacing Jurgen Klopp.
