<p>Xabi Alonso has been appointed Real Madrid manager, the LaLiga club said on Sunday as the Spaniard returns to the Santiago Bernabeu where he spent six seasons as a player and won several trophies.</p><p>Alonso has signed a three-year contract until June 2028 and the 43-year-old replaces Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge of his last game on Saturday.</p><p>With Ancelotti finishing his second stint at Real without winning a major trophy, Real moved quickly to change coaches after the veteran Italian agreed to coach Brazil.</p><p>Alonso had been in charge of Bayer Leverkusen and confirmed he would be leaving the German club this month.</p><p>The Spaniard took charge of Leverkusen in October 2022 and guided them to the double last season as they lifted their first Bundesliga title, without losing a game. They also won the German Cup and reached the Europa League final.</p><p>He had a contract at Leverkusen until 2026 but the club said they had granted his wish to terminate his deal at the end of the season.</p>.Napoli crowned Serie A champions after win over Cagliari.<p>Alonso will be presented as Real coach on Monday and will take charge from June 1, ahead of the Club World Cup which starts in the United States next month.</p><p>The former Spain international joined Real in 2009 from Liverpool and made 236 appearances for them, winning a LaLiga title, two Copa del Rey trophies and the club's long-awaited 10th European crown.</p><p>He began his coaching career at Real's youth academy where he managed the Under-14 team during the 2018-19 season, winning the league and the Champions tournament.</p><p>He took charge of Real Sociedad's reserve team before making the big step up to take the Leverkusen job.</p><p>Alonso will hope to follow in the footsteps of another Real Madrid midfielder, Zinedine Zidane, who returned to coach the Spanish club and won three Champions League titles in a row.</p><p>Under Ancelotti, Real will finish second in LaLiga behind Barcelona, who also beat them in the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals this season.</p><p>Real were knocked out of the Champions League as holders in the quarter-finals by Arsenal.</p><p>Alonso's first test will be the Club World Cup where they are in a group with Saudi side Al-Hilal, Mexican club Pachuca and Austria's RB Salzburg in the new 32-team tournament that kicks off on June 14. </p>
<p>Xabi Alonso has been appointed Real Madrid manager, the LaLiga club said on Sunday as the Spaniard returns to the Santiago Bernabeu where he spent six seasons as a player and won several trophies.</p><p>Alonso has signed a three-year contract until June 2028 and the 43-year-old replaces Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge of his last game on Saturday.</p><p>With Ancelotti finishing his second stint at Real without winning a major trophy, Real moved quickly to change coaches after the veteran Italian agreed to coach Brazil.</p><p>Alonso had been in charge of Bayer Leverkusen and confirmed he would be leaving the German club this month.</p><p>The Spaniard took charge of Leverkusen in October 2022 and guided them to the double last season as they lifted their first Bundesliga title, without losing a game. They also won the German Cup and reached the Europa League final.</p><p>He had a contract at Leverkusen until 2026 but the club said they had granted his wish to terminate his deal at the end of the season.</p>.Napoli crowned Serie A champions after win over Cagliari.<p>Alonso will be presented as Real coach on Monday and will take charge from June 1, ahead of the Club World Cup which starts in the United States next month.</p><p>The former Spain international joined Real in 2009 from Liverpool and made 236 appearances for them, winning a LaLiga title, two Copa del Rey trophies and the club's long-awaited 10th European crown.</p><p>He began his coaching career at Real's youth academy where he managed the Under-14 team during the 2018-19 season, winning the league and the Champions tournament.</p><p>He took charge of Real Sociedad's reserve team before making the big step up to take the Leverkusen job.</p><p>Alonso will hope to follow in the footsteps of another Real Madrid midfielder, Zinedine Zidane, who returned to coach the Spanish club and won three Champions League titles in a row.</p><p>Under Ancelotti, Real will finish second in LaLiga behind Barcelona, who also beat them in the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals this season.</p><p>Real were knocked out of the Champions League as holders in the quarter-finals by Arsenal.</p><p>Alonso's first test will be the Club World Cup where they are in a group with Saudi side Al-Hilal, Mexican club Pachuca and Austria's RB Salzburg in the new 32-team tournament that kicks off on June 14. </p>