Xabi Alonso Confirms He’s Leaving Bayer Leverkusen Ahead of Expected Move to Real Madrid

Head coach Xabi Alonso of Bayer Leverkusen attends a press conference in Leverkusen, Germany, 09 May 2025. (EPA)
Head coach Xabi Alonso of Bayer Leverkusen attends a press conference in Leverkusen, Germany, 09 May 2025. (EPA)
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Xabi Alonso Confirms He’s Leaving Bayer Leverkusen Ahead of Expected Move to Real Madrid

Head coach Xabi Alonso of Bayer Leverkusen attends a press conference in Leverkusen, Germany, 09 May 2025. (EPA)
Head coach Xabi Alonso of Bayer Leverkusen attends a press conference in Leverkusen, Germany, 09 May 2025. (EPA)

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso is leaving the German club after this season, ahead of an expected move to Real Madrid.

“This is the right moment to announce it,” the Spanish coach said Friday, ahead of what will be his final home game on Sunday. “Clarity is good for everyone.”

The 43-year-old Alonso ended weeks of speculation by informing his players before Friday’s training session that he was leaving, one year before his contract with the club expires in 2026.

Alonso, a former Madrid player, led Leverkusen to an unprecedented league and cup double last season after taking over the team when it was in the Bundesliga’s relegation zone in October 2022.

“I think that we can be happy, we can proud of what we have achieved during this time,” Alonso said.

His Leverkusen team remains the only one to complete a Bundesliga season unbeaten.

However, it was a tall order to replicate that form this season. Leverkusen conceded the league title to Bayern Munich last weekend with two games left to play.

“I have tried to squeeze them as much as possible. They have given me so much, so maybe we are empty right now,” Alonso said of his players.

The Leverkusen job was Alonso's first in senior management after a stellar playing career with Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern. He spent three years as a reserve-team coach at Real Sociedad, another former club. He started his coaching career at Madrid’s youth setup.

“I have learned so many things and I have improved as a coach, as someone that needs to have more resources for myself, for the future,” Alonso said of his time in Leverkusen. “It has worked pretty well, I would say.”

He remembered his first meeting with Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro and sporting director Simon Rolfes in San Sebastian, Spain, when they convinced him to take over their under-performing team.

“We had some ideas, some expectations. So once you fulfill them, you can say that the job was done,” Alonso said.

He declined to say where he will be going next.

“Now is not the day to talk about the future,” said Alonso, who is reportedly the lead candidate to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Madrid.

Ancelotti is under contract until the end of next season, but he is widely expected to leave after a campaign in which Madrid struggled despite adding Kylian Mbappé to its squad.

Ancelotti faces a huge match on Sunday when Madrid visits Barcelona, trailing its rival by four points and needing a victory to maintain hope of defending its La Liga title.

Brazil has been courting Ancelotti for over a year but talks about the national team job have dragged on. Ancelotti has deflected questions on his future by saying he will announce his plans when the season ends.

Alonso's final two Bundesliga games with Leverkusen are against Borussia Dortmund at home on Sunday, before a visit to Mainz on the final day of the season.



Gabriel: New Signings Will Help Bring Arsenal Trophies

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 12, 2025 Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko REUTERS/David Klein/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 12, 2025 Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko REUTERS/David Klein/File Photo
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Gabriel: New Signings Will Help Bring Arsenal Trophies

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 12, 2025 Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko REUTERS/David Klein/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 12, 2025 Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko REUTERS/David Klein/File Photo

Arsenal let Premier League titles slip through their grasp in the last couple of years but the arrival of top-quality signings will make a difference this season, said defender Gabriel Magalhaes.

Runners-up for the last three seasons, Arsenal have signed winger Noni Madueke and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea, as well as midfielders Christian Norgaard from Brentford and Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals in 52 games for Sporting last season, is also expected to make the switch to the Emirates Stadium.

"I think the players that came will help us out a lot. The club is doing what is best for the players and the manager," Gabriel told the BBC in an interview published on Sunday.

"They are definitely doing their best to bring the best players that can help us, but we have to focus on what we can do out on the pitch. The players that are here are doing that. We are strong and we are getting stronger with these new players.

"We want to have the best players. To be in the dispute for titles, you have to have the best players ... We have let a couple of titles slip through our fingers recently. We almost won but I think this year, things will be different."

Arsenal begin their 2025-26 Premier League campaign on August 17 with a trip to Manchester United.