On May 25, Real Madrid officially announced that Xabi Alonso has been appointed as the new head coach of the club. The two parties have signed a contract valid until June 30, 2028.
Real Madrid Official Statement:
Real Madrid C.F. announces that Xabi Alonso will be the head coach of the first team for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028.
Alonso is one of the greatest legends of both Real Madrid and world football. From 2009 to 2014, he played 236 official matches for the club, during which he won 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 La Liga title, 2 Copa del Rey titles, and 1 Spanish Super Cup.
Alonso is also a legend of the Spanish national team, earning 113 international caps and winning 1 FIFA World Cup (2010) and 2 UEFA European Championships (2008 and 2012).
His coaching career began with Real Madrid’s youth academy, where he led the U14 team to a league and championship double during the 2018–2019 season.
Now returning as one of the world’s best coaches, Alonso previously managed Bayer Leverkusen, making history by winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and DFL-Supercup within three seasons.
At 12:30 p.m. local time on May 26, Alonso will be officially presented as Real Madrid’s new head coach in Madrid. Club president Florentino Pérez will attend the press conference, after which Xabi Alonso will address the media in the club’s press room.
Xabi Alonso (Tolosa, November 25, 1981) is the new coach of Real Madrid. The 43-year-old Spanish coach returns to the club where he won six titles as a player and became a Real Madrid legend. He comes from Bayer Leverkusen, where he made history by winning the League, the Cup, and the German Super Cup.
Xabi Alonso joined the German club in October 2022, and in his first season, the team reached the Europa League semi-finals and finished in the European Championship. In the 2023/24 season, he won Bayer Leverkusen's first ever Bundesliga title, ending Bayern Munich's run of eleven consecutive league titles. He also won the German Cup and came close to completing the treble, finishing runners-up in the Europa League.
Bayer's spectacular season under Xabi Alonso was reflected in his 51 consecutive unbeaten runs. This strong performance continued into his final season as coach of the German club, which won its first ever Super Cup in August 2024.
Beginnings as a coach in the Real Madrid youth system
Before making the leap to Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso began his coaching career in the Real Madrid youth system. He led the U14 A team, which he led to La Liga and Tournament of Champions titles in the 2018/19 season. He subsequently managed Real Sociedad B between 2019 and 2022, where he secured promotion to the Second Division in 2021.
A legendary footballer
As a player, he played for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2014. He played 236 official matches and won his tenth European Cup, one European Super Cup, one La Liga title, two Copa del Rey titles, and one Spanish Super Cup. These successes add to those he achieved with the Spanish national team (one World Cup and two European Championships), Liverpool (one Champions League title, one European Super Cup, one FA Cup, and one FA Super Cup), and Bayern Munich (three Liga titles, one German Cup, and one German Super Cup).
CAREER
-Real Madrid youth teams (2018-19)
-Real Sociedad B (2019-22)
-Bayer Leverkusen (2022-25)
-Real Madrid (2025- )
AWARDS
-1 German League
-1 German Cup
-1 German Super Cup