In a press conference this Friday, Xabi Alonso announced his departure from Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, as the Spanish coach is expected to take over at Real Madrid next summer.
It’s official. Xabi Alonso will not be on the bench of Bayer Leverkusen next season. The coach of the German club has announced his departure from the North Rhine-Westphalia team at the end of the current campaign.
“I think it’s important to tell you. This week, the club and I decided that these are my last matches as the coach of Bayer Leverkusen. It’s the right time to announce it. I have always had good relations with the club, and we have always had clear communication. This is a moment with strong emotions. I felt that it was the right time to do it. I will not talk about the future; we still have a home match, and it will be an opportunity for me and some players to enjoy one last time together. It will be very touching. I spoke about it this morning with the players, the staff, and now it’s time to share it with the fans at the stadium. This is where I became who I am, and I am grateful. Football is about moments, and I think this is the moment for me,” he told Footmercato.
This departure has already been officialized by Bayer Leverkusen in a statement on its official website, where it wished its now former coach all the best for the rest of his coaching career: “After more than two and a half years together, the paths of Bayer 04 Leverkusen and head coach Xabi Alonso will part ways. The German champion, winner of the German Cup and Supercup in 2024, has agreed to the Spaniard’s request to terminate his contract prematurely at the end of this season, which was initially set to run until the summer of 2026. Bayer 04 will announce the name of his successor as head coach in due course.”
Heading to Real Madrid?
While nothing is official yet, the Spanish press is certain that the 43-year-old coach will join Real Madrid, where he will succeed Carlo Ancelotti. When questioned on the subject, the main concerned party did not want to discuss it. “My future? No. Not the time to talk about it,” he told a journalist who asked if he was going to commit to Real Madrid. In any case, we will know more in a few weeks…