Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, confirmed on Friday that he would leave the club at the end of the season, in the middle of the reports connecting him to the Spanish giants of Real Madrid. Alonso said it was “the right time” to announce the release, but did not confirm his next post, saying that it was “not the right time to talk too much about the future”. The Spanish and German media reported on Friday that the 43 -year -old has already agreed to join Real and would connect to the Spanish giants after the club World Cup, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, with a compensation payment of around 12 million euros ($ 13.5 million) to pay in Leverkusen. By taking over in October 2022, Alonso guided Leverkusen to an undefeated league and a double in the cup in 2023-24, the first title of Bundesliga in the history of the club.
In March 2024, Alonso declared that he would remain with the club despite the reported interest of Liverpool, Real and Bayern Munich, which he all represented as a player.
Alonso will be in the home canoe for the last time on Sunday against Borussia Dortmund, before his last match as a leverkusen coach in Massez.
“We have to take advantage of this moment, with mixed emotions. I spoke this morning to the players, the staff, who was with me during these three incredible and fantastic years,” said Alonso.
“And now, it’s time to share it on Sunday, especially with the fans, in the stadium on Sunday, when I lived great emotions and where I have become what I am right now.
“Football is the time and I think it’s a good time for everyone. Let’s take it until the last moment. We can be happy and proud of what we have always achieved with the right feeling that we take the club in the right direction.”
The defense of the title of Leverkusen ended with his 2-2 draw in Freiburg on Sunday, which confirmed Bayern as the title winners of this season. The Alonso team will end in the second row, whatever the results of their last two games.
– Double of the League and the Cup –
Alonso joined in October 2022 with Leverkusen dangerously hovering near the relegation spots. The Basque immediately put the club back on the right track; At the end of the season, Leverkusen had gone to the fifth, while making the semi-finals of the Europa League.
After bringing several key parts during the dead season, notably the midfielder Granite Xhaka, the striker Victor Boniface and the back Alex Grimaldo, Alonso piloted Leverkusen to an undefeated league and a double of the cup – the first in the history of German football.
By providing League to League to Leverkusen, Alonso helped to break the nickname “ Neverkusen ” unwanted man given to the club after five seats in second place, three final defeats of the German Cup and a defeat in the 2002 Champions League final.
In 2024-25, Leverkusen pushed Bayern until last weekend in the league and remains on the right track for its second best total of points.
The men of Alonso were eliminated from the semi-final of the German Cup by Arminia Bielefeld of third level and by Bayern in the last 16 of the Champions League.
DWI / NR
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