Coach Xabi Alonso leaves Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season

wek./(dpa) Championship coach Xabi Alonso will leave Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen after this season. The Spaniard announced this at a press conference on Friday, following media reports about a move to Real Madrid.

"This week, the club and I agreed that these will be my last two games as Leverkusen coach. It's the right moment to announce it. Now we have clarity," Alonso said at the press conference in Leverkusen. "We want to have a fitting farewell on Sunday, for some of the players, and for myself."

This summer marks the end of the most successful era in the club's history after more than two and a half years. Alonso had been coach of Bayer Leverkusen since October 2022. Last season, he led Leverkusen to the German championship and DFB Cup double. It was the first title in the club's history.

The Werkself became the first Bundesliga team to remain undefeated for an entire season in 2023/24. Bayer also reached the Europa League final, but lost to Atalanta.

This year, Alonso and Bayer 04 were unable to consistently match the previous year's performances. FC Bayern secured the Bundesliga title early. Bayer were eliminated in the Champions League round of 16 by the Munich club, and Leverkusen were eliminated in the DFB Cup semifinals by third-division side Arminia Bielefeld.

According to the Spanish sports newspaper Marca, Alonso will move to Real Madrid and succeed Carlo Ancelotti. Speculation about such a move has been rife for weeks. Alonso himself did not comment on his future at the press conference, saying the moment is not yet right.

For Alonso, it would be a return to Madrid, where he enjoyed his greatest years as a player, winning the Champions League, the league title, and the cup with the club. After his playing career, Alonso also began his coaching career at Real, including in the youth system.