Ancelotti successor
© Imago
The long -awaited change from Bayer Leverkusen’s coach Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid is perfect. The 43-year-old Spaniard takes over to the royal, in whom he received a contract until 2028, to the club World Cup starting in June. Ex-Real professional Alonso follows coaching legend Carlo Ancelotti, whose departure to the Brazilian national team had recently been announced. In the 2013/14 season, the Werkelf master coach played under the Italian himself in Madrid.
For Alonso, the still incumbent Champions League winner pays a transfer, the amount of which there are different reports. The former world and European champion is said to have had an exit clause in the range of 15 million euros in his contract that expires in 2026. However, a “Gentlemen’s Agreement” is real about a change to his ex-club. While the “kicker” reported a transfer between 12 million and 15 million euros, the Spanish media, for example at the broadcaster Cope, most recently talked about around 8 million euros. The “picture” also wrote from 5 million to 10 million euros. In both cases, Alonso would line up among the most expensive trainers in history. The Werkelf had confirmed that it fulfilled the Spaniard’s wish to dissolve the valid contract prematurely after the end of this season.
As initially, the start for the Alonso engagement in the Spanish state capital does not take place after the club World Cup, but before the tournament start in the USA on June 14th. First of all, it was said that Real Director Santiago Solari could take care of the team after Ancelotti’s departure. With possible income of over 100 million euros, the tournament is too important to enter into experiments, it was said last.
Bayer Leverkusen’s squad value exploded under Xabi Alonso
“I am Bayer 04 Leverkusen, my players and the staff, all employees of the club and, last but not least, thank you very much to the fantastic fans. Our success was the result of an outstanding team performance,” Alonso had before his last game in the Bayarena against Borussia Dortmund (2: 4) emphasized. “This club, which has given me extraordinary trust, deserves the first win of the German championship. My thanks and affection apply to everyone who helped to make this triumph, including the cup victory in Berlin.
During Alonso’s term, the Werkelf increased its squad value from 470 million to currently 644 million euros and provides the most valuable Bundesliga team according to Bayern (859 million). This was not only due to high investments, since 138 million were spent on newcomers during this period and players left the club for EUR 101 million. In a good two and a half years under Alonso, the Doubles winner of 2023/24 overtook BVB (436 million) and RB Leipzig (511 million) in terms of squad value.
