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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Alonso announces imminent Leverkusen exit</li><li>Won Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal last season</li><li>Set to replace Ancelotti as Real Madrid coach</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Xabi Alonso announces departure from Bayer Leverkusen as Spanish coach closes in on Real Madrid switch

LaLiga

Real Madrid

Mallorca

Bundesliga

Mainz 05

Bayer Leverkusen

<p>The Spanish coach has achieved unprecedented success with Leverkusen, guiding them to a first ever Bundesliga title as well as the DFB-Pokal trophy last season. The German side also reached the Europa League final that season, where they suffered their only defeat in all competitions. </p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Their success under Alonso resulted in <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/xabi-alonso-to-real-madrid-confirmed-bayer-leverkusen-chief-gentlemen-s-agreement-spaniard-leave-former-club-carlo-ancelotti/bltd8eae04a335217d7" target="_blank">reports he will replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid</a>, with the Italian set <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/carlo-ancelotti-real-madrid-agreement-italian-coach-departure-announced-la-liga-season/blt3e51cb752b5d1387" target="_blank">to bow out at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer</a>, and Alonso will have added to the speculation after telling reporters that he will soon leave Leverkusen.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>"The club and I agreed this week that the next two Bundesliga games will be my last as coach of Leverkusen," he said, with <a href="https://sport.sky.de/fussball/artikel/offiziell-xabi-alonso-verlaesst-bayer-04-leverkusen/13364381/35313" target="_blank"><em>Sky</em></a> reporting that he is on his way to Madrid.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After almost two-and-a-half years, and during the most successful period in the club's history, our head coach, <a href="https://twitter.com/XabiAlonso?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@XabiAlonso</a>, will leave <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bayer04?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bayer04</a> at the end of the season. <a href="https://t.co/SinXlkWJIJ">pic.twitter.com/SinXlkWJIJ</a></p>— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) <a href="https://twitter.com/bayer04_en/status/1920812468676214861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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WHAT ALONSO SAID

<p>Leverkusen have secured second place in the Bundesliga and will play their final home game of the season against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday before Alonso's last match in charge against Mainz the following Saturday. It appears the coach will then return to the club he spent five years with as a player.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR ALONSO?

Xabi Alonso announces departure from Bayer Leverkusen as Spanish coach closes in on Real Madrid switch | Goal.com

Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season.

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