Announcement of Departure
Xabi Alonso used a regular press conference on Friday to announce that he would leave Bayer Leverkusen a year before his contract with the club in 2026. "This week the club and I agreed that this will be my last two games as Leverkusen trainers. It is the right moment to announce it," he told reporters. "Now we have clarity."
Last Games with Leverkusen
The 43-year-old Alonso thus confirmed that the game on Sunday against Borussia Dortmund was his last home game with Leverkusen. "We want to say goodbye on Sunday, for some of the players and for myself," he said. Leverkusen completes its campaign the following Saturday with a match in Mainz. Bayern Munich have already secured the Bundesliga title.
Possible Return to Spain?
Alonso rejected making a comment when a reporter asked where he could go. "I’m not going to talk about it," he said. "This is not the moment." The former player of Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich has been speculated about his future for weeks. It was generally reported that he is the main candidate for Carlo Ancelotti in Real Madrid.
Background and Speculation
Ancelotti’s contract also runs until the end of the next season, but after a disappointing campaign, at least according to high standards from Real, there was a lot of speculation about his departure. It was also a disappointing season for Leverkusen – mainly because of the success that Alonso led last season when they won their first Bundesliga title and completed the double by winning the German Cup.
Unprecedented Success
These were high heights for a club that was previously mocked by rivals as "neverkusen" for their history of mistakes when it came to big titles – especially the league. The club had kicked in the relegation zone when Alonso took over in October 2022. Alonso’s departure marks the end of an era for Leverkusen, and his future plans remain uncertain.
