Real Madrid is entering a new era, as after four years and 13 trophies with Carlo Ancelotti it is ready for the next chapter in its technical leadership. This will be named after Xabi Alonso. According to Marca, the Spanish technician has agreed and will sign a three-year contract, that is until 2028, with the Madrid team, (barring the unexpected) - he will return after 11 years.

The former international midfielder wore the Real Madrid jersey for five years (2009-2014), managing to celebrate five titles, including a Champions League (2013/14) and a La Liga (2011/12). He made a total of 236 appearances, scoring six goals and providing 31 assists.

Alonso is one of the next big things in coaching, as in the 2023/24 season he managed to celebrate the double with Leverkusen, dethroning Bayern from the top of the Bundesliga after 11 years.

He was born in Tolosa (25/11/1981), a small town in the Basque Country, from a family with a long history in football. His father Miguel, after winning the league twice with Real Sociedad, moved to Barcelona to play for Barcelona. So Xabi stayed there until the age of 6, where he then moved to San Sebastián, and began taking his first steps in football with his friend, also a footballer, Mikel Arteta. The two of them dreamed of playing together for Sociedad, something they did not achieve, as Arteta moved to Barcelona. Then Xabi was taken to Sociedad.

At Sociedad, he learned a lot from experienced coaches and improved, so at 18 he played for the first team. In his first season, he made 30 appearances while his team finished in 13th place. Sociedad's good performances are parallel to those of Alonso, who was voted the best Spanish footballer of the year (2003). He was called up to the Spanish national team. In the summer of 2004, his friend Arteta returned to Sociedad, but Alonso moved to Liverpool for 13 million euros.

In 2004, Rafa Benitez took over as coach, who attempted to create a new team, so after Steven Gerrard's injury, Xabi Alonso won a starting position. In 2007, his contract was renewed for 5 years, but the year was marked by an injury to him and the transfers of Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva, making the midfielder position even more competitive. Alonso, however, was not worried.

Real Madrid

On 5 August 2009, Real Madrid announced that they had reached an agreement with Liverpool to sign Alonso for €35 million. In August 2014, he signed a contract with German club Bayern Munich. On 17 February 2015, he made his 100th appearance in the UEFA Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk in a match in which he was sent off for a second yellow card. On 20 May 2017, he played his last professional game, in a 4–1 home win for Bayern against Freiburg. He was replaced in the 82nd minute by Franck Ribéry, and his career was ruined. In this game, Bayern celebrated winning the 2017 title.

In the spanish national team

Alonso played mainly as a substitute in the Spanish national team due to the big names that were there (Xavi, Iniesta) until the 2008 European Championship, when he became a key player. He played in all major tournaments with the Spanish national team. He participated in the 2009 Confederations Cup, the 2010 World Cup, which he won by beating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final, and the 2012 European Championship, which he also won, making good appearances and making his 100th appearance with the national colors. He also participated in the 2014 World Cup, in which Spain had a disappointing participation. He retired from international football on 29 August 2014 at the age of 32.

Head coach

On 1 June 2019, Xabi Alonso took over as head coach of Real Sociedad B, who were playing in Segunda División B. In his second season, he led the team to the Segunda División for the first time since the 1961–62 season after defeating Algerita in the play-offs on 22 May 2021.

On 5 October 2022, Xabi Alonso took over his first job as a coach at the first division level, replacing Gerardo Seoane at Bayer Leverkusen. And now he will take over as coach of Real Madrid until 2028.