Xabi Alonso has officially announced that he will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, amid growing speculation of a return to Real Madrid as manager.
The Spanish coach, who has been heavily linked with a switch to the Santiago Bernabéu following pressure on Carlo Ancelotti, made the announcement ahead of Leverkusen’s final home game this Sunday.
Speaking on Friday, Alonso said:
This week, the club and I agreed that these will be my last two games as Leverkusen coach. This is the right moment to announce it. It was an emotional conversation with the players and staff — we’ve built something special.
Alonso enjoyed a remarkable spell at Leverkusen, leading the team to an unbeaten domestic double last season and losing only once all year — in the Europa League final. Under his leadership, the club played 138 matches, winning 88 of them with a 64% win rate.
His success earned him the Bundesliga Coach of the Season title and the 2024 Globe Soccer ‘Best Coach of the Year’ award.
Reports strongly indicate that Alonso is set to take over at Real Madrid, the club where he spent five years as a player and won several major honors.
I want to have a proper goodbye this weekend,” Alonso added, as he prepares to end a historic chapter in Leverkusen’s history.