Real Madrid confirm Xabi Alonso as their new head coach on a three-year deal after Carlo Ancelotti’s exit to Brazil… with ex-Man United boss Erik ten Hag the frontrunner to replace him at Bayer Leverkusen

Real Madrid have officially confirmed the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their new manager in a club statement posted on Sunday morning. 

The Spanish giants announced that he would sign a three-year deal, beginning on June 1 and running to June 30, 2028. 

This will see Alonso be able to take charge of the team for the upcoming Club World Cup, which begins on June 14. 

Alonso, 38, is set to be unveiled as the new head coach of Los Blancos on Monday at 12:30pm local time.

The Spaniard has been heavily linked with the club after impressing in his first job in management at Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. 

In his first season at the helm in 2023-24, he guided them to the title unbeaten, as they failed to lose a single game. 

The Spaniard is regarded as one of the most talented young coaches in world football

Alonso will replace Carlo Ancelotti, who will leave the Spanish capital to take charge of the Brazilian national team

Leverkusen failed to emulate their scintillating form of the last campaign by finishing a distant second to Bayern Munich this season. 

However, the signing of Alonso is a major coup for Real as he is regarded as one of the most gifted coaches in world football. 

Real Madrid’s club statement read: ‘Real Madrid CF announces that Xabi Alonso will be Real Madrid’s manager for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028.

‘Xabi Alonso is one of the greatest legends of Real Madrid and world football. He wore our shirt in 236 official matches between 2009 and 2014. During that time, he won six titles: the tenth European Cup in Lisbon, one European Super Cup, one La Liga title, two Copa del Rey titles, and one Spanish Super Cup. 

‘Now, he returns to Real Madrid as one of the best coaches in the world, after making history at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the League, Cup, and German Super Cup in three seasons.

‘On Monday, May 26, at 12:30pm, Xabi Alonso will be presented as the new Real Madrid coach at an event to be held at Real Madrid City.’

His hiring comes after Real officially announced on Friday that Ancelotti would be leaving the club at the end of the season to take charge of the Brazil national team.

Ancelotti, 65, won the Champions League, Copa del Rey and LaLiga on two occasions in his second stint and will become the first foreign coach of the Selecao on May 26. 

Alonso guided Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title unbeaten last season

Meanwhile, Ancelotti leaves Madrid having lifted the Champions League, Copa del Rey and LaLiga on two occasions in his second spell at the club

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