All posts tagged: Xabi

Xabi Alonso grateful to Real Madrid despite failed coaching stint | Football News

Xabi Alonso grateful to Real Madrid despite failed coaching stint | Football News

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After his stint as the coach of Real Madrid came to an end in just seven months that were filled with turbulence, Xabi Alonso said that he was grateful for being given the “honour and responsibiity” of coaching the LaLiga heavyweights where he made a name for himself as a midfielder in his playing days. Alonso’s rein as manager at Real Madrid was marred by defeats at the hands of European rivals like Paris St Germain in the Club World Cup, to Atletico Madrid in LaLiga, and ‌to Liverpool and ‍Manchester ⁠City in the Champions League.There were also ego clashes with star players at the club like co-captain Federico ‌Valverde and winger Vinicius Junior. The final straw for Alonso’s tenure as coach came when Real Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona, a club Real is trailing by four points. Real Madrid named another former club mainstay Alvaro Arbeloa as Alonso’s replacement. Real Madrid had hired Alonso after his successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen in Germany where he helped the club clinch their …

Xabi Alonso grateful to Real Madrid despite failed coaching stint | Football News

Xabi Alonso quits as Real Madrid coach; Álvaro Arbeloa named new boss by La Liga club | Football News

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Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has left the team by mutual agreement, the La Liga club announced on Monday. “Real Madrid C. F. communicates that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, he has decided to end his time as coach of the first team,” tha official club statement read. The announcement came less than 24 hours after Los Blancos suffered a 3-2 defeat to arch-rival Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday. The Spaniard was already under pressure ahead of the club’s trip to Saudi Arabia and a failure to win the silverware has compounded in him leaving the job. “Xabi Alonso will always have the love and admiration of all Real Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has represented the values of our club at all times. Real Madrid will always be his home,” the club said in a statement. Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and all his technical team for the work and dedication in all this time, and wishes them much luck …

Backed by his players, Xabi Alonso sees Real Madrid getting through its tough moment | Football News

Backed by his players, Xabi Alonso sees Real Madrid getting through its tough moment | Football News

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Xabi Alonso thanked his players for their attitude after another defeat and said he was positive Real Madrid would overcome its slump soon. Madrid lost 2-1 to Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, remaining with only two wins in its last eight matches in all competitions. “The players gave it everything they had, and I have nothing to criticize today. I really value their attitude. We have to keep going,” Alonso said. “Right now the results aren’t as good as we’d like. “We’re critical, we demand a lot of ourselves, and we understand the fans. We have to keep working hard. We believe we’ll get through this because everything passes, and I’m convinced we can do it.” The result increased criticism against Alonso and prompted some jeers by the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. “We can understand why they whistle, and we have to accept it as normal because the demands here are so high,” Alonso said. “We want to turn things around, improve our mental and physical condition, and get the …

Vinicius leaves out Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso’s name from apology after outburst at being subbed in El Clasico | Football News

Vinicius leaves out Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso’s name from apology after outburst at being subbed in El Clasico | Football News

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Brazilian star Vinicius Junior blamed his “passion” and “competitive nature” for his outburst directed at Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso after being replaced in the El Clasico against Barcelona over the weekend. Vinicius also apologised for the incident. But what was interesting is that while he named the fans, the club president and teammates in his apology, he left out coach Alonso. “I want to apologize to all Madrid fans for my reaction after being substituted. Just as I already apologized in person during today’s training session, I also want to apologize again to my teammates, the club and the president,” the footballer posted on his X handle on Wednesday. The incident had happened in the 72nd minute of Madrid’s 2-1 league win over Barcelona on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium when Alonso opted to take Vinicius off the pitch and send Rodrygo out instead. Story continues below this ad Cameras caught Vinicius storming off the pitch, while opening his arms in exasperation and muttering to himself. Vinicius went straight to the changing room, …

Real Madrid Appoint Xabi Alonso As New Head Coach

Real Madrid Appoint Xabi Alonso As New Head Coach

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Spain: Xabi Alonso has been appointed the new coach of Real Madrid with the Spaniard to take over from June 1 and lead the team at the Club World Cup. “Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025 until June 30, 2028,” said Real Madrid in a statement. Alonso succeeds Carlo Ancelotti, who has taken over as Brazil national coach. With veteran Italian coach Ancelotti taking the reins of the Brazilian national team, Madrid secured a deal with former midfielder Alonso, whom they have been linked with for months. Alonso, 43, leaves German side Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the Bundesliga season after finishing second. “Alonso is one of the biggest legends at Real Madrid and in world football,” continued Los Blancos’ statement. “He wore our shirt in 236 games between 2009 and 2014. During that time he won six trophies.” Alonso will be officially presented on Monday at 1030 GMT. The Spaniard coached Leverkusen to a league and German Cup double in the …

Xabi Alonso looks to sign off Bayer Leverkusen stint with new record. Check out what it is | Football News

Xabi Alonso looks to sign off Bayer Leverkusen stint with new record. Check out what it is | Football News

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Xabi Alonso will hope to bid farewell to Bayern Leverkusen with another record to add to his cap with the 2023/24 league champions hoping to defeat Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga final which would be their 34th away game in a row without defeat, a streak that has lasted over 2 seasons. If they can manage that on Saturday, they will break Bayern Munich’s league record of 33 away league games without a loss. “Yes, in terms of football goals, for sure. It is very, very meaningful if we reach it. To have two whole seasons without an away defeat is special but it is not going to be easy. But we want to try until the last day. We had enough time to say farewell so we want to end with a good feeling for all,” Alonso said. The Spaniard led Leverkusen to an undefeated domestic league and Cup double last season and in the current campaign they have remained unbeaten on the road. They will, however, finish in second place behind champions Bayern. …

Borussia Dortmund Thump Bayer Leverkusen To Spoil Xabi Alonso’s Home Farewell

Borussia Dortmund Thump Bayer Leverkusen To Spoil Xabi Alonso’s Home Farewell

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Borussia Dortmund romped to a 4-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, spoiling Xabi Alonso’s last match in the home dugout while boosting their Champions League hopes. The visitors came from one down as Jeremie Frimpong’s early strike was cancelled out by goals from Julian Brandt, Julian Ryerson, Karim Adeyemi and Serhou Guirassy. Alonso, who took Leverkusen to a league and cup double last year in his first full season in charge, announced his impending departure from the club on Friday, with Real Madrid the Spaniard’s likely destination. Leverkusen’s title defence fizzled out with a 2-2 draw at Freiburg last Sunday, but the home fans were in a celebratory mood, one year after Alonso took them to a first league title in their 120-year history. Before the game, Leverkusen celebrated Alonso’s time at the club as fans chanted ‘Danke Xabi’ and held up placards with pictures of the Basque coach, but Dortmund were in no mood to celebrate. The hosts dominated the opening period, pinning Dortmund in their own half. Only some spectacular …

Xabi Alonso confirms he’ll leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season | Football News

Xabi Alonso confirms he’ll leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season | Football News

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Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso on Friday confirmed that he is set to leave the German club at the end of the season. “We can let you know that this week the club and I, we have agreed that these two games are going to be my last two games as a Bayer Leverkusen coach,” Alonso told reporters. The 43-year-old’s stock has soared after guiding Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title without a single loss, along with the German Cup in his first full season with the club last year. This season, Bayer is on course to finishing second in the league after Bayern Munich, who clinched the title last week. “I owe great thanks to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, my players and staff, all the employees of the club and last but not least the fantastic fans. Our success was the result of an outstanding team performance,” he was quoted in an official release by the club. After almost two-and-a-half years, and during the most successful period in the club’s history, our head coach, @XabiAlonso, …

Real Madrid Appoint Xabi Alonso As New Head Coach

Xabi Alonso Confirms Exit From Bayer Leverkusen At Season’s End

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Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso confirmed Friday he will leave the club at the end of the season, amid reports linking him to Spanish giants Real Madrid. Alonso said it was “the right moment” to announce the exit, but did not confirm his next post, saying it was “not the right moment to talk too much about the future”. Spanish and German media reported Friday the 43-year-old has already agreed to join Real and will link up with the Spanish giants after the Club World Cup, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, with a compensation payment of around 12 million euros ($13.5 million) to be paid to Leverkusen. Taking over in October 2022, Alonso guided Leverkusen to an unbeaten league and cup double in 2023-24, the first Bundesliga title in the club’s history.  In March 2024, Alonso declared he would stay with the club despite reported interest from Liverpool, Real and Bayern Munich, all of whom he represented as a player.  Alonso will be in the home dugout for the final time on Sunday against Borussia …

Xabi Alonso refuses to confirm that he’s Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement

Xabi Alonso refuses to confirm that he’s Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement

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Xabi Alonso isn’t ready to talk about the future, especially not when the League season is coming to a close and the race for the Bundesliga title is still on. Amid mounting speculation linking him to Real Madrid, the Bayer Leverkusen boss remained laser-focused on the present. “It’s not a good time to discuss the future. We’re at a very important moment in the season,” Alonso said, brushing aside questions about succeeding Carlo Ancelotti in Madrid. “I don’t want to talk about speculation and rumours. What’s more important to me is what’s happening right now.” The 43-year-old’s stock has soared after guiding Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title without a single loss, along with the German Cup in his fist full season with the club last year. Even though Leverkusen is currently going through one of the better seasons in club history, it appears that they will have to end the season with nothing to show for it in terms of silverware. Story continues below this ad Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro added fuel to the …