Xabi Alonso decided to lead Bayer Leverkusen for another season and after that, the next stop could be Real Madrid.
Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid converged many factors to come together. Photo: Goal
For a long time, many people believed that Xabi Alonso would leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season. Everything seems to be destined for Alonso to step up to the next level.
Jurgen Klopp was exhausted and decided to leave Liverpool after this season. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich also decided to part ways with Thomas Tuchel. Two of the clubs Alonso played for needed new coaches. In addition, “big men” such as Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea and Juventus are also on the leadership bench.
However, after all, Alonso crushed all speculation by announcing his stay at BayArena. The Spanish strategist has pondered his future long enough to make this decision.
Xabi Alonso is more than anyone else the right person to lead Real Madrid. Photo: AFP
Whether accidentally or intentionally, Real Madrid seems to have designed this perfectly. Carlo Ancelotti will sooner or later leave the Bernabeu in the near future.
In December last year, Ancelotti signed a new agreement to stay at Real until 2026. Specific details of the agreement have not been disclosed, but according to many sources, there is no obligation for Ancelotti to stay at the Bernabeu until until the end of the 2025-2026 season. Therefore, Ancelotti can leave at any time, as long as Alonso is ready.
Los Blancos are still having a good season under Ancelotti’s leadership. However, their squad is somewhat unbalanced. The top team in La Liga has 7 high-class midfielders but does not have a pure right winger. And they still cannot find a worthy replacement for Karim Benzema in attack.
The Italian strategist solved that problem by using Jude Bellingham as a virtual “number 9” with the support of Vinicius and Rodrygo. Until now, that combination is still working.
But there is a feeling that after this season, Ancelotti’s cycle will be over. Pillars like Toni Kroos or Luka Modric have all moved to the other side of their career slope. And if Kylian Mbappe’s transfer to the Bernabeu goes smoothly, Real also needs a fresher breath of air to lead the new sports project.
Leading Real is always a complicated job and requires many factors. In fact, there is no shortage of famous strategists who have been kicked out of Bernaneu. Ancelotti is, in many ways, the perfect man for this role. He handles the media well, maintains fans’ expectations and achievements are always guaranteed.
It’s only a matter of time before Ancelotti leaves Real. Photo: AFP
Alonso is a different type of coach. This strategist has sharp tactical thinking and always directs enthusiastically on the sideline. He spent 18 months at Madrid’s academy before leading Real Sociedad’s B team. Alonso continually affirms his love for Real Madrid and his understanding of what it means to be a Madridista. If ever there was a young coach ready for the job, Alonso is the one.
Things may be different for Alonso at the end of next season. Even if he stays, some of Leverkusen’s pillars such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Victor Boniface will all be watched. Meanwhile, Bayern will also gradually stabilize if they find a suitable “captain” next season. In short, repeating the current success is extremely difficult for Alonso.
But if Leverkusen continues to impress and Alonso’s football brand reaches new heights, then the strategist’s departure is inevitable. The opportunity to work at Real with a group of stars like the current one is really hard to refuse.