Real Madrid announce Xabi Alonso as new manager to confirm football's worst-kept secret

Real Madrid have confirmed football's worst-kept secret: is their new manager.

The former Spain, and Madrid midfielder has been announced as the club's replacement for Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian is moving into international management with Brazil after Los Blancos decided to part company with the legendary multi-time winner.

In comes Alonso, for his second senior managerial role, having impressed in his first, at German club Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso led Die Werkself to the Bundesliga title in his first full campaign at the helm - shedding the club's cruel 'Neverkusen' tag - as they swept to the championship unbeaten. They also won the German Cup and looked set for a remarkable treble, only to lose the Final to Atalanta, in their only defeat of an unbelievable campaign.

His second full season saw Bayer unable to usurp once more, but Alonso departed the BayArena a hero, having agreed to take charge in the Spanish capital.

He has signed a three-year deal with Real, a club statement confirmed. It read: " CF announces that Xabi Alonso will be Real Madrid's manager for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028.

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"Xabi Alonso is one of the greatest legends of Real Madrid and football. He wore our shirt in 236 official matches between 2009 and 2014. During that time, he won six titles: the tenth European Cup in Lisbon, one European Super Cup, one title, two Copa del Rey titles, and one Spanish Super Cup. Xabi Alonso is also a legend of the Spanish national team, with which he won 1 World Cup (2010) and 2 European Championships (2008 and 2012), in 113 international matches.

"Xabi Alonso began his coaching career at Real Madrid's youth academy, managing the U14 A team during the 2018-2019 season, where he won the League and the Champions Tournament. Now he 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."

He will formally be unveiled at a press conference on Monday.

Alonso has been Madrid chief's first-choice to replace outgoing boss Ancelotti since the club started discussing the possibility of replacing the ex-Chelsea, and AC Milan boss back in December. The decision was ultimately made to part ways with Ancelotti - who led the side to the La Liga title and Champions League last season, his second European triumph in three years - following the Champions League quarter-final loss to .

Alonso's star has been in the ascendancy since he stepped into his first senior managerial role in Leverkusen in October 2022, having previously worked at youth level at Madrid and Real Sociedad. He replaced Gerardo Seoane with Bayern 17th in the Bundesliga, having endured their worst start to a season since 1979 and turned things around, guiding them to a top six finish and a Europa League spot. From there his side produced a stunning 2023-24 campaign, which will go down in German history, as they won their first ever Bundesliga title.

Now he is tasked with wrestling La Liga away from eternal rivals - who have been so impressive under Hansi Flick, the club's financial issues pushing a return to youth stars and the German's desire to develop them leaving the Blaugrana garden looking rosy once more - and of course challenging in the Champions League.

One of Alonso's first tasks when he gets down to business will be to figure out how to effectively accommodate Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr in the same starting lineup. Despite the Frenchman's 41 goals in his debut season, and the Brazilian's undisputed match-winning brilliance, their relationship and how both operate on field has been seen as a key reason for the club's failure in Europe this term.

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