Leverkusen manager Xavi Alonso recently made a big announcement in an interview – he will leave the team at the end of the season. In a press conference, the former Spain international said, “The club and I have agreed that the next two games will be the last part of my time as coach here.
While he said it was not the best time to talk about the future, he also said he wanted to give the team a proper send-off. “I want to play these last two games well with the players and then bring this journey to a successful conclusion.” From his tone you can hear that he is full of feelings for this team.
In fact, many have speculated that Alonso could be on his way to a bigger club. According to Spanish media reports, he has already negotiated a three-year contract with Real Madrid. He has not officially confirmed the news, but everyone knows that his next stop is likely to be one of the most famous football clubs in the world.
Making history in one season
Looking back on Alonso’s time at Leverkusen, it’s fair to say that it was a very successful one. In particular, he led the team to the Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 season, going undefeated throughout the campaign. That is something very straightforward. They also won the German Cup, making them the double champions of the domestic tournament.
Not only that, but they also did very well in the UEFA Cup, making it all the way to the final and almost completing the “triple crown”. In Alonso’s 138 games in charge, the team won more than 64% of their matches, which is quite impressive in European football.
From the brink of relegation to league champions
Many may remember that Alonso took over Leverkusen midway through the 2022/23 season. They weren’t doing so well at the time and were almost in the relegation zone. But he turned the team around in a short period of time. In his first full season, he helped the team qualify for Europe.
In just over two years, he not only stabilized the team, but also took Leverkusen to a higher level. These achievements impressed other big clubs as well, with Bayern Munich and Liverpool showing interest in him. But he chose to stay in Leverkusen and continue to build the team.
Next step: new challenges
Now Alonso is ready to take the next step in his career. He could be on the verge of becoming the new manager of Real Madrid. If he does, it will be another big test of his abilities.
After all, Real Madrid is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and the pressure and expectations will be even greater. But judging by his performance at Leverkusen, he has proven that he is capable of leading a team to success.
For Leverkusen to lose such a good coach must be a big blow. But no matter what happens, Alonso has left his mark on the team’s history.