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New coach Xabi Alonso: Is the big change coming at Real Madrid?
Xabi Alonso becomes Real Madrid's new coach. He takes over the team with ambitious goals and fresh commitments.
New coach Xabi Alonso: Is the big change coming at Real Madrid?
Real Madrid is facing a significant upheaval. After a season without a title, the return of Xabi Alonso as the new head coach has now been officially announced. The 43-year-old Spaniard, who was a player in Madrid from 2009 to 2014, is a well-known figure in the club. Alonso won six titles during his time at Los Blancos, including the prestigious Champions League. His contract was recently signed for three years and he will lead the team at the Club World Cup in the USA, with the first game against Al-Hilal on June 18. crown reports that he is returning to steer the club's fortunes almost 11 years after his last game for Madrid.
Xabi Alonso arrived at a time when the team not only failed to win any of the three major titles in the 2024/25 season, but also struggled with personnel challenges. Injuries to key players such as Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga could make his job more difficult. He also has little time to prepare for the upcoming tournament. The New York Times had already indicated that Alonso was being traded at his former place of work as the successor to Carlo Ancelotti, who is already planning for the Brazilian national team.
New additions to the club
In order to strengthen Alonso, especially in the coming tournament, Real Madrid has several new signings in its sights. In particular, the signings of Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth and Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool are considered almost certain. The club is also interested in Nico Paz, a 20-year-old attacking midfielder, and Alvaro Carreras, a 22-year-old left-back, both of whom have the potential to strengthen the team.
Nico Paz, who previously moved to Como from Real's second team Castilla for six million euros, scored six goals and provided nine assists in 35 competitive games last season. Real Madrid has a buyback option of almost eight million euros, which could increase in the coming years. The official Real Madrid site highlights that Alvaro Carreras also has a market value of €28 million and plays an important role at Benfica, where his contract runs until 2029.
The return of Xabi Alonso is highly appreciated not only by the fans but also by the club's management. CEO Jose Angel Sanchez in particular has always praised Alonso's way of working and successes as a player. Alonso, who enjoyed a strong reputation as coach at Bayer Leverkusen thanks to his successes including winning the Bundesliga in 2024, now faces the challenge of getting Real Madrid's ambitions back on track.