Xabi Alonso used a regular prematch press conference on Friday to announce that he would leave a year before his contract at the club expires in 2026.
“This week, the club and I agreed that these will be my last two games as Leverkusen coach. It’s the right moment to announce it,” he told reporters. “Now we have clarity,”
The 43-year-old Alonso thus confirmed that Sunday’s match against would be his last home game with the Werkself.
“We want to have a fitting farewell on Sunday, for some of the players and for myself,” he said.
Leverkusen wrap up their campaign with a match in Mainz on the following Saturday. Bayern Munich have already secured the Bundesliga title.
Possible return to Spain?
Alonso declined to comment when asked by a reporter about where he might be headed.
“I’m not going to talk about that,” he said. “This is not the moment.”
The former Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich player has been batting away speculation about his future for weeks. It has been widely
Ancelotti’s contract also runs until the end of next season, but there has been much speculation about his departure after a disappointing campaign, by Real’s high standards, at least.
Unprecedented success
It’s also been a – mainly because of the success Alonso led them to last season, when they went undefeated in winning their first title, completing the double by winning the .
This were lofty heights for a club previously derided by rivals as “Neverkusen,” for their history of near misses when it came to major titles – particularly the league. The club had been languishing in the relegation zone when Alonso took over in October 2022.
Edited by: Matt Pearson
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