Real Madrid legend Alonso returns to the royal club as the new coach.

 Xabi Alonso was appointed the new coach of Real Madrid, the Spanish league runner-up, on Sunday. The Spaniard will take over on June 1 and lead the club in the Club World Cup in the United States.

Real Madrid announced in a statement: "Xabi Alonso will coach Real Madrid for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028."

Real Madrid reached an agreement with its former international midfielder Alonso, who had been linked for months, to succeed veteran Italian Carlo Ancelotti, who has moved to coach the Brazilian national team.

The 43-year-old Alonso left Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the Bundesliga season after they finished second.

The Real Madrid statement added: "Alonso is one of the biggest legends of Real Madrid and world football. He wore our shirt in 236 matches between 2009 and 2014. During that time, he won six titles."

Alonso will be officially presented on Monday afternoon.

The Spanish coach led Leverkusen to a domestic league and cup double in the 2023-24 season, maintaining an unbeaten league record, making him a target for Europe's top clubs.

Basque coach Alonso had an agreement with Leverkusen that allowed him to leave if one of his former clubs, Real Madrid, Liverpool, or Bayern Munich, wanted to sign him.

Real Madrid, under Ancelotti, had a disappointing season. They won the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup, but suffered a resounding exit in the quarterfinals of their beloved Champions League (15 titles), losing to Arsenal.

Real Madrid also lost the La Liga title, the Spanish Super Cup, and the Copa del Rey to arch-rivals Barcelona, ​​whom they lost four times in various competitions. As a result, they failed to win any major trophies this season.

Alonso will succeed one of Real Madrid's most successful coaches, despite his struggles this season.

Ancelotti, 65, led Los Blancos to 15 titles during two stints with the club, spanning six years.

The Italian won three Champions League titles with the club, including La Decima in 2014 during his first stint, with Alonso part of his squad despite being suspended for the final.

Alonso has also coached under compatriot Pep Guardiola (with Bayern Munich), Portuguese José Mourinho, and Vicente del Bosque, among others. He is considered a tactical genius and an excellent organizer, which could be ideal for a Madrid side that lacks balance.

He won the European Championship (2008 and 2012) and the 2010 World Cup with Spain, contributing to La Roja's dominance on the international stage.

After retiring from playing in 2017, he coached Real Madrid and Real Sociedad at youth level before being appointed first-team coach by Bayer Leverkusen in 2022.

Real Madrid signed fellow defender Dean Howson from Bournemouth this summer, and Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to join him, as his contract at Anfield expires.

Real Madrid is keen to sign the England international ahead of this summer's Club World Cup, which will be Alonso's first opportunity to win silverware.

Real Madrid will face Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in Miami on June 18 in their opening Group H match, which will be their first look at Alonso's team. They will then face Mexico's Pachuca on June 22 and Austria's Salzburg on June 26.