Xabi Alonso, the head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, has announced that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season, marking the conclusion of a remarkable 2.5-year tenure. Amid widespread speculation, it is believed that Alonso is set to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, a move that has been hinted at by various sources, including BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague.
On the morning of Friday, May 9, 2025, Alonso confirmed to his players during a training session that these would be his last two games in charge. "The club and I have agreed that these are my last two games in charge of the team. I’m not going to say anything about the next team yet. We have a couple of games left and a season to go. Then it’ll be time to talk about that. After the last game against Mainz. When we’ve done our work, it’ll be time to talk about my future," Alonso stated.
Alonso's departure comes after a stellar season where he led Leverkusen to a Bundesliga title and the DFB Pokal, achieving a domestic double in his first full season as a senior manager. This impressive feat was made even more remarkable by the fact that his team went unbeaten in the league, a historic achievement for the club.
Reflecting on his time at Leverkusen, Alonso expressed mixed emotions. "It is emotional, I spoke this morning with the players, the staff, so many people who have helped me during an unbelievable, fantastic three years. Now is a moment to share it with the fans in this stadium where I have lived great emotions and become what I am right now," he remarked.
Leverkusen's journey under Alonso has been nothing short of transformative. He took over the managerial role in October 2022, guiding the team from second-bottom to a sixth-place finish in his first season. The following year, Alonso's squad captured the Bundesliga title and the DFB Pokal, solidifying his status as one of the rising stars in football management.
Despite their success, the current season has presented challenges. Leverkusen's title defense came to an abrupt end with a draw against Freiburg last weekend, and they were eliminated from the Champions League in the Round of 16 by Bayern Munich. Additionally, the team suffered a surprising defeat to third-tier Arminia Bielefeld in the DFB Pokal semi-finals.
As for his future, Alonso has been linked to Real Madrid for some time, but he has remained coy about the specifics. "In football, everything is about moments. Choosing the right moment to change is the hardest part. Last year, I felt I had to continue; this year, I don’t," he explained. While he has acknowledged the interest from Los Blancos, he has yet to confirm any details regarding his next move.
Alonso's best memory at Leverkusen, he shared, was winning the DFB Pokal last season, which he described as the most exciting moment of his managerial career. "The Pokal final was the most exciting moment. The last week of last season was so intense. At some point, I knew we were going to win the Bundesliga. After experiencing the bitterness of football in Dublin, I wanted to finish the season in the best possible way, and in the end, we were able to close out a historic season with the double. It was the best way to close out a dream year. I think it will be remembered for a long time," he said.
Looking forward, Alonso's potential move to Real Madrid raises questions about the future of some of his current players. Notably, Florian Wirtz, a standout star for Leverkusen, is reportedly attracting interest from Bayern Munich, complicating the situation further. "I can’t promise not to take some Leverkusen players with me on my next trip. I don’t have that information. We train, we play, but I don’t know anything about that," Alonso remarked when asked about the possibility of bringing players with him to Madrid.
As Leverkusen prepares for their final matches of the season, they will host Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, May 11, 2025, before concluding their campaign against Mainz on May 17, 2025. The club's management and fans alike are left to ponder the impact of Alonso's departure and what it means for the future of Bayer Leverkusen.
In the midst of this transition, the club's CEO, Fernando Carro, had previously insisted that Alonso was comfortable at Leverkusen and had been planning for the next season. However, with the recent developments, it appears that the tides have shifted, and the club is now bracing for a significant change in leadership.
Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti's tenure at Real Madrid is also coming to an end, as he is expected to take over as coach of the Brazilian national team after the Liga season concludes. This paves the way for Alonso, who is set to sign a three-year deal with Real Madrid, bringing along two of his staff members to the Spanish capital.
As the football world watches closely, the upcoming games for Bayer Leverkusen will not only serve as a farewell for Alonso but also as a testament to his legacy at the club. The excitement surrounding his potential arrival at Real Madrid adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing narrative.
