Xabi Alonso to Replace Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid Manager
According to a report from the Mirror, Xabi Alonso has been chosen to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid manager, with the Bayer Leverkusen boss agreeing to a three-year contract with his former club. The news was confirmed by Bayer Leverkusen, who announced Alonso’s departure on Friday.
The Mirror reports that officials at Real Madrid are preparing to announce the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their next manager. Alonso, 43, will rejoin his former club, replacing the outgoing Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian manager has had a successful second spell in Madrid, winning two LaLiga titles and two Champions Leagues. However, their quarter-final exit in this year’s Champions League and failing LaLiga title defence has spelled the end of his tenure.
As reported by the Mirror, Bernabeu chiefs met with Ancelotti in the wake of their Champions League defeat to Arsenal last month and agreed to part ways. Ancelotti will bid farewell to the Bernabeu after Madrid host Real Sociedad on the final weekend of the season. Alonso will be his successor and bring with him trusted assistant coaches Sebas Parrilla and Alberto Encinas.
The Mirror states that Alonso’s success at Leverkusen put him top of Madrid’s wish-list. The Leverkusen manager became one of the most in-demand coaches in world football last year when he guided them to an unbeaten season in the Bundesliga, winning the league title and German cup. A 2-2 draw with Freiburg on Sunday saw Alonso’s side surrender the title to Bayern Munich, despite only losing two league games.
In a statement, Alonso said: "I owe great thanks to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, my players and staff, all the employees of the club and last but not least the fantastic fans. Our success was the result of an outstanding team performance. This club, who showed exceptional trust in me, very much deserved to win the German league title for the first time. My thanks and admiration go to everybody who helped to make this triumph happen including the DFB Pokal win in Berlin. Bayer 04 are ready for the future. The positive path will continue and I will be excited to follow it."
The Mirror reports that this will be Alonso’s third managerial position, having been in charge of Real Sociedad’s B team for three years until 2022. His first task will be to oversee Real’s Club World Cup campaign this summer. Los Blancos will play Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Mexican giants Pachuca and Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg in the group phase.
As quoted in the Mirror, Carlo Ancelotti managed Xabi Alonso at both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. News of Alonso’s appointment has emerged ahead of Real’s biggest league game of the season. Ancelotti’s men travel to face Barcelona on Sunday in a potential title decider. Victory for Real would put them one point behind their bitter rivals with three games to play. A win for Barca, however, would see them go seven clear.
The Mirror also reports that Ancelotti will address the media later on Friday to preview Sunday’s Clasico. Barcelona have already beaten Real in two domestic cup finals this year, the Supercopa and Copa del Rey. Hansi Flick’s team also hammered the reigning champions 4-0 at the Bernabeu earlier this season. Barca, though, must bounce back from their heartbreaking extra-time loss to Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.
Source: Mirror.co.uk, https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/real-madrid-xabi-alonso-ancelotti-35196956
