Background and Relevance of Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso, a former Real Madrid midfielder and Spanish national team player, has been appointed as the new head coach of Real Madrid on a three-year contract, effective from June 1, 2023. Alonso, aged 43, takes over from Carlo Ancelotti, who concluded his second stint with the club without winning any major trophies.
Alonso’s Journey to Coaching
Alonso, who joined Real Madrid from Liverpool in 2009, spent six successful seasons as a player at the club, winning multiple La Liga titles, Copas del Rey, and the prestigious Champions League. After retiring as a player in 2017, Alonso began his coaching career with Real Madrid’s youth teams, managing the under-14 side and winning both the league and the Campeones tournament during the 2018-19 season.
He then moved on to coach Real Sociedad’s reserve team before taking charge of Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022. During his tenure, Alonso led Leverkusen to an impressive double (Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal) and reached the Europa League final. His contract with Leverkusen was set to expire in 2026, but the club agreed to release him to join Real Madrid.
Transition and Impact on Real Madrid
The decision to appoint Alonso as the new coach comes after Carlo Ancelotti’s departure to manage Brazil. Under Ancelotti, Real Madrid finished second in La Liga, trailing champions Barcelona. The team also suffered an early exit from the Champions League, losing to Arsenal in the quarterfinals.
Alonso’s appointment aims to bring fresh ideas and a renewed focus on youth development, as he previously demonstrated with his success in nurturing young talent during his time coaching at Real Madrid’s youth academy and Leverkusen.
Alonso’s Coaching Philosophy and Goals
Alonso aims to emulate the success of another former Real Madrid midfielder and coach, Zinedine Zidane. Zidane returned to Real Madrid as a coach and led the team to win three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018.
Alonso’s coaching philosophy emphasizes possession-based football, high pressing, and developing young talent. He will look to rebuild the team’s confidence following a disappointing season and prepare them for upcoming challenges, including the Club World Cup starting in the United States next month.
Upcoming Challenges
Alonso’s first test as Real Madrid coach will be the Club World Cup, where his team is grouped with Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Pachuca (Mexico), and RB Salzburg (Austria) in this new 32-team tournament commencing on June 14.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Xabi Alonso? A former Real Madrid midfielder and Spanish national team player, Alonso spent six seasons at Real Madrid (2009-2017) and won multiple titles, including three Champions League trophies.
- Why was Carlo Ancelotti replaced? Ancelotti’s second stint with Real Madrid ended without any major trophy wins, prompting the club to seek a new coach.
- What is Xabi Alonso’s coaching background? Alonso began his coaching career with Real Madrid’s youth teams, later moving to coach Real Sociedad’s reserves and Bayer Leverkusen, where he achieved notable success.
- What are Alonso’s goals as coach? Alonso aims to implement possession-based football, high pressing, and develop young talent while emulating Zinedine Zidane’s success at Real Madrid.
- What challenges await Alonso? His first challenge will be the Club World Cup, where Real Madrid faces Al-Hilal, Pachuca, and RB Salzburg.
