Xabi Alonso confirmed he would be leaving Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season. The ex-Gladbach player and coach has been in charge at Leverkusen since October 2022. There, he opened up about what he deemed “the most difficult” season of his coaching career. Meanwhile, speculation is already brewing on whether Alonso will be back at Real Madrid on a permanent basis. His exit will be a deeper turning point for him and the club.
Alonso’s time at Leverkusen has been a wild ride filled with incredible highs and shocking lows. He steered the club to a historic double last season – victory in both the Bundesliga and the German Cup. Under his guidance, Leverkusen pulled off an incredible coup, winning their first ever Bundesliga title without a single loss. This has been a trying season for the club. They endured humiliating eliminations from the Champions League and German Cup.
A Season of Contrasts
Alonso made his announcement after Leverkusen’s poor recent form. The squad suffered an extremely disappointing 5-0 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16 and a 2-1 German Cup defeat to Arminia Bielefeld. These setbacks highlighted the pressure the team faced on a European stage and raised expectations that were difficult to meet.
This by far has been the hardest season. Alonso stated. We had the goal of trying to fulfill expectations and doing well in the Champions League. We worked hard to put our best foot forward, so it’s disappointing not to make it to the final.
Though these challenges continue to exist, Alonso is proud of the progress accomplished in his brief tenure at Leverkusen. He was optimistic in his self-acknowledgement of his development as a coach and a person. He’s acquired some priceless experiences that he’s looking forward to utilizing wherever his career takes him next.
There has been growth within the club, within the players and myself, he remarked. Not only have I learned a ton – I’ve grown tremendously as a coach. Today, I look for additional tools and resources to help us continue to be more proactive in the future.
A Return to Roots?
As speculation mounts regarding Alonso’s next move, many believe that he is poised to return to Real Madrid, where he enjoyed great success as a player. During his time at Madrid, Alonso lifted four major trophies. This featured the proud Champions League title, the first Champions League of the club’s history and their 10th crown.
With the prospect of going back to the club where he achieved legendary status as a player, the pull of his former club is an intriguing opportunity for Alonso. To him, though, now is not the time to be talking about his post-trump plans or even engaging in that discussion.
“It’s not the moment to talk too much about the future because now that we know, we want to have a proper farewell on Sunday here for some players, for myself,” he said.
A Fond Farewell
Alonso’s farewell home match will come against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, which should be quite the occasion. As he prepared to leave there was a maelstrom of emotions. Yet, he was still hell-bent on providing himself and the players a better send-off.
Now that we have clarity it’s the right moment to say that for sure it’s a moment with mixed emotions, he explained. “It’s the moment to announce it and to know it.”
Reflecting on his time at Leverkusen, Alonso described his second season as “a historic season,” filled with memorable nights and significant achievements. His farewell is simultaneously a conclusion and a beginning — for him and, more importantly, Bayer Leverkusen.
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