Real Madrid welcomes back Xabi Alonso as their manager until 2028

After reaching a $1 million agreement with Bayer Leverkusen to transfer Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid has announced he is back with the team on a three-year contract worth between $7 million and $9 million per season.

Thus, Xabi Alonso replaces Carlo Ancelotti, who previously coached the Spaniard, and begins work with one of the most praised teams in the world on June 1st in time for FIFA’s Club World Cup, which rewards the winner with $125 million. Ancelotti will head for Brazil to become the national team’s first foreign head coach.

Alonso, 43 years old and a former Madrid midfielder, who announced he was leaving Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month, will replace Carlo Ancelotti, who is becoming Brazil’s first foreign head coach. In a statement, Madrid said it “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.”

Back to Real Madrid as one of the world’s best coaches

The team’s official statement recalled Alonso “defended our jersey in 236 official games 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.”

The press release adds that Alonso is also a “Spanish national team legend, with one World Cup in 2010, and two European Championships in 2008 and 2010 in 113 matches.”

“He now 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,” it added.

German news outlet Bild said the deal allowing Alonso to leave could have been worth up to $15 million, but that based on a special clause in his contract with Leverkusen which allows him depart to Madrid to fulfil his lifetime dream.