- MADRID — Real
Madrid CF have appointed Xabi Alonso as their manager till 2028 as a successor
to Carlo Ancelotti, who left the club to join the Brazil national team.
-
- Alonso is already a Real Madrid legend and represented the
club as a player in 236 official matches between 2009 and 2014. During that
time, he won one UEFA Champions League, one European Super Cup, one La Liga
title, two Copa del Rey titles and one Spanish Super Cup.
Also read: Grassroots Football Day observed in Nagaland
-
- Alonso is also a legend of the Spanish national team, with
which he won 1 World Cup (2010) and two European Championships (2008 and 2012),
in 113 international matches.
-
- He began his coaching career at Real Madrid's youth academy,
managing the U14 A team during the 2018-2019 season, where he won the League
and the Champions Tournament.
-
- Alonso officially announced his departure from Bayer 04
Leverkusen, concluding a historic reign at the club.
-
- Under Alonso's guidance, Leverkusen achieved historic
milestones, most notably clinching their first-ever Bundesliga title in the
2023–24 season without a single defeat - a feat unparalleled in German football
history.
-
- The team also secured the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup,
completing a remarkable domestic treble. Their unbeaten streak extended to 51
matches across all competitions, setting a new European record before a loss in
the Europa League final to Atalanta.
-
- Alonso will be presented as the new Real Madrid coach at an
event to be held at Real Madrid City on Monday.
-
- Alonso’s appointment follows swift movement by Real Madrid
who have made it clear they are not ready to end the season without a trophy
and are now fully focused on the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
-
- Former head coach Ancelotti, alongside club legend Luka
Modric, were given a farewell fitting of their stature on Saturday, after their
2-0 win against Real Sociedad in the final game of the domestic season.
