On May 25, 2014, Xabi Alonso posted an iconic picture as Real Madrid won their historic 10th UEFA Champions League title, known as La Décima. Alonso was a key player for Real Madrid during that period, having made 236 appearances for the club between 2009 and 2014 and winning six trophies including La Décima.
Exactly 11 years later, on May 25, 2025, Xabi Alonso was officially announced as the new head coach of Real Madrid. He signed a three-year contract running from June 1, 2025, until June 30, 2028, succeeding Carlo Ancelotti who departed to coach the Brazil national team. Alonso returns to Real Madrid after a successful coaching spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he led the team to a historic domestic treble including their first Bundesliga title, German Cup, and German Super Cup. Before that, he began his coaching career at Real Madrid’s academy and managed Real Sociedad B.
Alonso’s first challenge as Real Madrid coach will be preparing the team for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States in June 2025. His appointment is seen as a return of a Madridista legend, both as a player and now as one of the most promising coaches in world football.
Date Combinations
- May 25, 2014: Xabi Alonso celebrated Real Madrid’s La Décima victory as a player.
- May 25, 2025: Xabi Alonso was announced as Real Madrid’s new head coach, starting June 1, 2025, on a three-year deal.
Achievements of Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso began his coaching career with Real Madrid’s U14 team before moving to manage Real Sociedad B in 2019. At Real Sociedad B, he achieved promotion to the Segunda División in his second season, marking the club’s return to Spain’s second tier after nearly six decades.
Transforming Bayer Leverkusen
Alonso was appointed head coach of Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022, taking over a team struggling near the bottom of the Bundesliga. Under his leadership, Leverkusen experienced a dramatic turnaround, finishing his first season in sixth place and qualifying for the Europa League.
Historic Bundesliga Title and Unbeaten Season
In the 2023–24 season, Alonso led Bayer Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title. Remarkably, Leverkusen became the first team in Bundesliga history to complete an entire league season unbeaten. This achievement ended Bayern Munich’s long-standing dominance in German football.
Record-Breaking Unbeaten Run
Alonso’s Leverkusen set a new European record by going 51 competitive matches unbeaten across all competitions, surpassing Benfica’s previous record from the 1960s3. The team also broke several club records, including most points in a season, most wins, most goals scored, and most clean sheets.
Domestic Double
The 2023–24 season culminated in Leverkusen winning the DFB-Pokal (German Cup), completing a historic domestic double—the first in the club’s history.
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Style of Play and Tactical Innovation
Alonso implemented a dynamic 3–4–3 formation at Leverkusen, emphasizing controlled possession, rapid transitions, and defensive solidity. His tactical approach was widely praised for its balance between attractive football and pragmatic results.
This marks a full-circle moment for Alonso, transitioning from an iconic player to the head coach of the club where he achieved great success.
