Xabi Alonso moves one step closer to Real Madrid job after Bayer Leverkusen exit is confirmed

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Evening Standard

·09 de maio de 2025

Xabi Alonso moves one step closer to Real Madrid job after Bayer Leverkusen exit is confirmed

Alonso has been heavily tipped to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will be leaving his role as Bayer Leverkusen head coach at the end of the season as speculation over replacing Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid heats up.

Vídeos OneFootball

The Spaniard’s contract with the Bundesliga outfit still had two years left to run, but the club have agreed to an early termination that will see Alonso depart after a spell that lasted more than two and half years.

During that period, Alonso guided Leverkusen to a first-ever Bundesliga title win - doing so going through the entire campaign unbeaten - winning the DFB Pokal and Supercup as well as reaching the Europa League final.

In a statement via the club’s official website, Alonso said: "I owe great thanks to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, my players and staff, all the employees of the club and last but not least the fantastic fans. Our success was the result of an outstanding team performance.

"This club, who showed exceptional trust in me, very much deserved to win the German league title for the first time. My thanks and admiration go to everybody who helped to make this triumph happen including the DFB Pokal win in Berlin.

“Bayer 04 are ready for the future. The positive path will continue and I will be excited to follow it."

Alonso’s last home game in charge of Leverkusen will be this weekend’s fixture against Borussia Dortmund before signing off with a trip to Mainz next Saturday.

If reports are to be believed, this announcement means the 43-year-old is one step closer to becoming the next Real Madrid manager.

Spanish publication Marca have recently claimed Ancelotti will bid farewell to Los Blancos following their final game of the season against Real Sociedad on May 25 with Alonso ready to sign a three-year contract to succeed the legendary Italian.