Real Madrid officials are gearing up to announce the appointment of Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso as the club’s new manager. Ex-Liverpool star Alonso is set to return to his former club on a three-year contract, taking over from the departing Carlo Ancelotti.
Following the Champions League defeat to Arsenal last month, Bernabeu bosses met with Ancelotti and agreed to part ways. The esteemed Italian has clinched two LaLiga titles and two Champions Leagues during his illustrious second tenure in Madrid.
Ancelotti also led Real to European glory during his first stint. Despite his triumphs since returning to the Spanish capital in 2021, this year’s Champions League quarter-final exit and a faltering LaLiga title defence have marked the end of his reign.
Marca reports that Ancelotti will bid adieu to the Bernabeu after Madrid’s final match of the season against Real Sociedad. His successor, Alonso, will bring along trusted assistant coaches Sebas Parrilla and Alberto Encinas.
Alonso was heavily linked with the Liverpool job last year when he steered Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga season, securing both the league title and the German cup.
However, a 2-2 draw with Freiburg on Sunday saw Alonso’s team relinquish the title to Bayern Munich, despite only suffering two league defeats.
This will mark Alonso’s third stint as a manager, following his three-year tenure with Real Sociedad’s B team until 2022. His successful spell at Leverkusen has catapulted him to the top of Madrid’s wish-list, and he is anticipated to be unveiled as their new manager in the upcoming weeks. He will almost certainly be joined by Trent Alexander-Arnold at the Bernabeu next season.
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This means that the former Liverpool star’s initial responsibility will be to guide Real through their Club World Cup campaign this summer.
The Spanish giants are set to face Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia, Mexican heavyweights Pachuca, and Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg in the group stage.
The news of Alonso’s impending appointment comes just before Real’s most crucial league match of the season. Ancelotti’s squad are due to take on Barcelona on Sunday in a game that could potentially decide the title.
A victory for Real would leave them trailing their arch-rivals by just one point with three matches remaining. However, a win for Barca would extend its lead to seven points.
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Ancelotti is scheduled to speak to the press later on Friday to preview Sunday’s Clasico. Barcelona have already claimed two domestic cup victories over Real this year, winning both the Supercopa and Copa del Rey.
Hansi Flick’s side also inflicted a crushing 4-0 defeat on the reigning champions at the Bernabeu earlier this season. However, Barca will need to recover from their devastating extra-time defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.
