MADRID, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid on Sunday named Xabi Alonso as its new head coach to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
The former Real Sociedad B and Bayer Leverkusen boss has signed a contract until June 2028, and will lead Madrid in this summer's Club World Cup.
Alonso began his playing career at Real Sociedad, and after a successful spell with Liverpool, moved to Real Madrid in 2009, making 236 appearances across a five-year spell, winning the Champions League, La Liga and two Copas del Rey.
After hanging up his boots in 2017, the 43-year-old had a short spell coaching in Real Madrid's youth system before returning to Real Sociedad, where he led the club's B-team to promotion to the second division.
He joined Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022, helping lift the German club out of relegation danger, before guiding the club to its first-ever Bundesliga title in a remarkable unbeaten campaign, in which Leverkusen also won the German Cup and reached the final of the Europa League, losing 3-0 to Atalanta.
This season Leverkusen finished second behind Bayern Munich, with Alonso a fortnight ago announcing that he would step down at the end of the campaign, fueling speculation that he might replace Ancelotti at Real Madrid. ■
