Xabi Alonso ‘will leave’ Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso's future, previously the subject of speculation, has now been clarified.

ESPN.es have reported that despite signing a three year contract at the start of last season, Xabi Alonso will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Xabi Alonso guided Leverkusen to an incredible Bundesliga and DFB Pokal domestic double last season in what was his first full campaign as a top division head coach.

Now he seems set to depart after less than three seasons in the role, with ESPN making clear that there is a consensus on his destination: he is heading to the Spanish capital to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.

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Previously held wisdom was that Alonso would see out his contract with Leverkusen and then join Madrid, especially as Ancelotti's deal with Los Blancos also expires in June 2026.

But Madrid's struggles at the start of this season combined with the thrashing handed out by Hansi Flick's high-flying Barcelona side has accelerated thinking at the Santiago Bernabeu and they are no longer interested in waiting until 2026.

Madrid's interest in Xabi Alonso makes total sense. Not only did the Basque coach play for Los Blancos to great success over a five year period, but he has demonstrated tremendous coaching talent with Bayer Leverkusen.

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Under Alonso's guidance, Bayer Leverkusen have become one of the most dynamic sides anywhere in the world. They won the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal undefeated in 2023/24 playing sensational football.

In fact, Leverkusen lost just one single game in the whole season: the Europa League final, where an out-of-this-world-class performance from Ademola Lookman saw Atalanta beat them 3-0.

But that match aside they annihilated their opponents and smashed records repeatedly playing great football with a dynamic, never-say-die attitude that saw them score countless last minute goals.

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Real Madrid taking interest was only natural, many elite clubs did, but with Los Blancos inexplicably winning the Champions League to go with their La Liga triumph, there was no need to make a change in summer 2024 and a tentative plan was set for 2026.

Barcelona changed Madrid's plans, so we could now be seeing Xabi Alonso in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu in September 2025.

ESPN did add that another of Alonso's former clubs Bayern Munich should not be ruled out as, if they are unhappy with their new coach Vincent Kompany they could make a move for Alonso as well.

It's hard to see Bayern competing for Xabi Alonso with Real Madrid, however. Liverpool perhaps could, but they are happy with Arne Slot in charge so won't feel compelled to chase Alonso like Madrid inevitably will.