Ending the season empty-handed means Xabi Alonso will have a tough task lifting Real Madrid back to the top.
Before his days at Real Madrid as a player, Alonso lit up Anfield in a Liverpool shirt, later moving to Bayern Munich. He tasted success everywhere, but it’s Madrid that holds a special place in his heart. Now, returning to the Spanish capital in a new role, the Spaniard couldn’t be happier.
Taking over from the club’s most successful manager, Carlo Ancelotti, Alonso arrives at the Santiago Bernabéu full of confidence and ambition. In his own words, it’s the beginning of a “new era” at Real Madrid.
Alonso won everything in sight during his five seasons at the club as a player—Champions League, La Liga, two Copa del Rey titles, and a Spanish Super Cup. On Sunday, he officially returned as head coach, signing a three-year deal.
At 43, Alonso’s coaching résumé might not be stacked—especially when compared to Ancelotti—but he’s already made his mark on the dugout. Under his leadership, Bayer Leverkusen enjoyed a historic 2023–24 season, going unbeaten in the Bundesliga and claiming the title for the first time in the club’s history. They also lifted the DFB-Pokal and reached the Europa League final.
Leverkusen set a record with 51 consecutive unbeaten matches and went the whole Bundesliga season without losing away from home—a testament to Alonso’s tactical prowess.
So it’s no surprise he appeared full of belief in his first press conference as Real Madrid’s head coach.
“Without a doubt, this is a very special day for me. It’s a day I’ll remember forever in my life. I’m very happy to be here—it feels like home.”
“My bond with Madrid will never be broken, and about an hour and a half ago, when I entered Valdebebas, I felt it again. I had this feeling that a new era is beginning.”
With steely determination, Alonso spoke about his vision to lead the team back to glory.
“We have a great team, filled with extraordinary players, and a real chance to achieve great things. That’s one of the big reasons I came here—with so much energy and motivation. I believe we can accomplish something significant, something worthy of Real Madrid and this European Cup.”
The current season has been far from ideal for Real. Their Champions League run ended in disappointment, crashing out to Arsenal in the quarterfinals. In La Liga, they finished second behind Barcelona.
To make matters worse, they lost all four meetings against their fierce rivals, including finals of both the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. A season filled with setbacks has surely dented the squad’s confidence.
That means Alonso’s journey begins with a steep hill to climb. His first official challenge will come at the FIFA Club World Cup, kicking off on July 14 in the United States—a new chapter, and possibly a new legacy in the making.
