Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso leaves the club at the end of the season.
Alonso joined the 2022-23 campaign at Leverkusen and took up his first senior management role after coaching the B-team of Real Sociedad for three years.
His first full campaign at the helm was an unprecedented success, because in 2023-24 Leverkusen completed an unbeaten Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal Double and became German champions for the first time.
In the process, Leverkusen enjoyed a record-breaking undefeated run among all teams in Europe's Big Five Leagues (in all competitions), with 51 games without defeat (42 victories, nine draws) before he lost 3-0 to Atalanta in the Europa League final.
The second full campaign from Alonso has been less successful, in which Bayern Munich was crowned Bundesliga champions with two more games, although Leverkusen defeated Stuttgart to win the DFL-SUPERCUP in August.
The success of Alonso would probably always attract interest from elsewhere, with reports that suggested that he had a clause in his contract with which he could leave as Real Madrid, Bayern or Liverpool – three of the clubs he represented as a player – Call.
That seems probably in the coming weeks, where Madrid is said to be looking for Carlo Ancelotti before the renewed club World Cup starts in June.
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– Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@Bayer04_en) 9 May 2025
Alonso said on Friday to the Leverkusen website: “I am a lot owed to Bayer Leverkusen, my players and employees, all employees of the club and, last but not least, the fantastic fans.
“Our success was the result of an excellent team performance. This club, which showed exceptional faith in me, deserved very much to win the German league title for the first time.
“My thanks and admiration go to everyone who helped to make this triumph happen, including the DFB-Pokal victory in Berlin. Bayer is ready for the future. The positive path will continue and I will be enthusiastic to follow it.”
Sports director Simon Rolfes added: “Together with Xavi we have put together a team that has impressed the entire football world through quality on the field and the mentality.
“We are proud of the big steps ahead and the status of the club today and we wish Xabi the very best in its future roles. I am sure our paths will often cross again.”
Alonso was able to make a piece of history before he leaves next week at the end of the Bundesliga campaign.
Leverkusen are undefeated in 33 away in the German top flight (23 wins, 10 draws), the joint-long run in the history of the competition alongside Bayern, who achieved that performance between 2012 and 2014.
They visit Mainz for their last game under Alonso on May 17, while his farewell from home on Sunday will be against Borussia Dortmund.
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