Former Real Madrid midfielder and Bayer Leverkusen coach, Xabi Alonso, will replace Ancelotti beginning on 1 June, in time for the Club World Cup
Real Madrid have officially announced their parting of ways with Carlo Ancelotti a day before the club’s final league game of the 2024/25 season. The Italian will be heading over to Brazil to coach the national team, while former club midfielder Xabi Alonso will be taking over at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid released a statement on Friday confirming Ancelotti’s departure.
“Real Madrid CF and Carlo Ancelotti have reached an agreement to end his tenure as Real Madrid manager,” read the statement. “Our club wishes to express its gratitude and affection to one of the greatest legends of Real Madrid and world football.
“Carlo Ancelotti led our team through one of the most successful periods in our 123-year history and has become the coach with the most titles in our history: three European Cups, three Club World Cups, three European Super Cups, two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey titles, and two Spanish Super Cups. A total of 15 titles during his six seasons at our club.”
It has been the worst kept secret in football for a while that Ancelotti would be leaving the club. Brazil, unable to delay further due to their own internal pressures, announced a day after Real Madrid’s loss in the clásico on 11 May that the Italian would be taking charge of the Selecao.
The Brazilian Football Federation were able to do that because Madrid’s season was effectively over after rivals Barcelona won 4-3 to extend their lead in La Liga to seven points clear with three matches to go. However, Madrid did not release a statement regarding Ancelotti’s future until now.
The Italian’s final game at the helm will come on Saturday against Real Sociedad, where the Bernabeu faithful will give a formal send-off to a manager who has guided Madrid to multiple honours across two stints at the club.
Club president Florentino Perez has paid glowing tribute to the departing coach in an official statement: “Carlo Ancelotti is now forever part of the great Real Madrid family. We are proud to have enjoyed a coach who has helped us achieve so much success and who has also represented the values of our club in an exemplary manner.”
Xabi Alonso will return to his former club as the new head coach, after announcing his exit from Bayer Leverkusen where he won the Bundesliga in a famous undefeated league campaign, ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year grip on the title in the process.
Alonso will start his tenure on 1 June, in time for the FIFA Club World Cup. He is expected to bring along to Madrid his trusted assistant Sebastian Parrilla and fitness coach Alberto Encinas. However, Madrid’s goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis is expected to remain at the club.
