Arsenal are getting their early transfer priorities wrong

Ultimate bottle-job? Henderson & Ajax face epic title collapse

Héctor Bellerín: How could I dance at a funeral?

Milan are a mess - and superstars will be sold this summer

Rebels United: The legend of Eric Cantona

Editors' Picks

Ronaldo's son wears signature CR7 & Mbappe boots in Portugal training

📽️ | Ronaldo Jr makes Portugal debut in crushing win over Japan

Kane gets his trophy - but other Brits abroad suffer title blows

'Winning themselves out of a job' - McElhenney on 'brutal' cost

Ballon d'Or Power Rankings: It's Dembele's to lose now

Rodrygo 'angry' at Real after Bellingham & Mbappe ‘explosion’

Greenwood heads to Madrid! Ex-Man Utd man on pre-end-of-season trip

Neville and Beckham swing the axe! Salford release 17 players

<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>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



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.

Next matches