New reports about succession
What was already reported by “Sport Bild” towards the end of last season gained new momentum at the beginning of the week: According to a report from Spain, Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso could succeed the outgoing Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid from the coming season . On Tuesday, the Italian, who will take over the Brazilian national team in 2024, commented on the speculation himself.
Coach with the most different championship titles in the top 5 leagues
“I trained Xabi, he is doing a great job at Bayer. He understands the game well, that’s why he’s a very good coach,” praised the 64-year-old at a press conference ahead of his team’s LaLiga duel with Las Palmas and added: “I wish that Xabi Alonso, Raúl and Álvaro Arbeloa will one day become coach of Real Madrid.”
“Radio Marca” had previously reported, citing its own information, that the “Royal” club management had chosen the 41-year-old, who won the Champions League with Real between 2009 and 2014, as Ancelotti’s successor. Leverkusen’s excellent start with four wins and one draw in the first five Bundesliga games convinced the bosses in Madrid, it was said.
Alonso, who has been under contract with the “Werkself” since October 5, 2022, extended his contract, which originally ran until 2024, by two years before the start of the season. According to information from the “Bild” newspaper, it was agreed in the negotiations at the time that Bayer would not insist on the working paper until 2026 if a global club like Real asked.
Alonso, Raúl & Arbeloa in discussion as Ancelotti’s successors at Real Madrid
Alonso has a record of 1.82 points per game from 42 competitive games with Bayer to date, and his team is currently in second place in the Bundesliga table behind record champions FC Bayern only due to a poorer goal difference. During his active time, the 2010 world champion played for Real Sociedad, Liverpool FC, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, won the Champions League twice (2005 and 2014) as well as various national titles, including three championships with the Munich team, where he won his title in 2017 Professional career ended.
With former Schalke player Raúl and Arbeloa, Ancelotti also brought two other Real club icons into play as his successors. The former goalscorer Raúl has been coaching the second representative Real Madrid Castilla since 2019, with whom he is currently in sixth place in the third Spanish league (table). The 46-year-old was recently linked to Villarreal FC. With 741 competitive appearances, Raúl leads the ranking of Real’s record players.
Madrid’s own Arbeloa also has a prominent status in the Spanish capital: As an active player, the 40-year-old won the Champions League twice with the “Royal” and has been a leading player in the youth sector since 2020. The former right-back has been coaching the U19s since 2022.
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