Real Madrid has sights set on next head coach

With Carlo Ancelotti's contract at Real Madrid set to expire in the summer of 2026, the club must start considering potential replacements for the Italian legend. Luckily for Los Blancos, their preferred candidate is set to leave his club this coming summer.

As reported by Goal, Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso is set to leave at the end of the season, with all roads seemingly leading to Madrid.

Alonso, who played for Real Madrid from 2009 to 2014, has long been linked with the Real Madrid job ever since his sensational rise to the top of the managerial game at Bayer Leverkusen. 

He began his coaching career with the Real Sociedad B team in 2019 before joining Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in 2022. The highlight of Alonso's time at Leverkusen has to be his invincible 2023-24 season, finishing with a record of 28-6-0 and guiding the German side to their first Bundesliga title. 

The Spaniard has made his name as a coach by playing a high-intensity, possession-based style that brings with it a plethora of goals. Given the incredible attacking depth that Alonso would have at his disposal at Real Madrid, his style would fit perfectly at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

However, Real Madrid bringing in Alonso may not be as straightforward as some may expect. Alonso has also been linked with clubs like Liverpool and Bayern Munich in the past, and with the manager being available without a transfer fee, there will no doubt be a heavyweight battle among top clubs to secure Alonso for their future.

Aside from this speculation surrounding his future, Alonso's focus remains on Leverkusen's next matches against Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on Nov. 23 and RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Nov. 26.