Alonso to leave Bayer Leverkusen amid Real Madrid rumours

Alonso joined Leverkusen midway through the 2022-23 campaign, taking on his first senior managerial role after coaching Real Sociedad's B team for three years.

His first full campaign at the helm was an unprecedented success, as Leverkusen completed an unbeaten Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2023-24, becoming German champions for the very first time.

In the process, Leverkusen enjoyed a record-breaking unbeaten run among all teams in Europe's big five leagues (in all competitions), going 51 matches without defeat (42 wins, nine draws) before losing 3-0 to Atalanta in the Europa League final.

Alonso's second full campaign has been less successful, with Bayern Munich being crowned Bundesliga champions with two games to spare, though Leverkusen did beat Stuttgart to win the DFL-Supercup in August.

Alonso's success was always likely to attract interest from elsewhere, with reports suggesting he had a clause in his contract allowing him to leave if Real Madrid, Bayern or Liverpool – three of the clubs he represented as a player – came calling.

That looks likely to occur in the coming weeks, with Madrid reportedly looking to replace Carlo Ancelotti before the revamped Club World Cup starts in June.

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Alonso told the Leverkusen website on Friday: "I owe great thanks to Bayer 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. This club, who showed exceptional trust in me, very much deserved to win the German league title for the first time.

"My thanks and admiration go to everybody who helped to make this triumph happen, including the DFB-Pokal win in Berlin. Bayer are ready for the future. The positive path will continue and I will be excited to follow it."

Sporting managing director Simon Rolfes added: "Together with Xavi, we have put together a team that has impressed the whole football world through quality on the pitch and mentality.

"We are proud of the big steps forward and the standing of the club today and wish Xabi all the best in his future roles. I'm sure our paths will often cross again."

Alonso could still make another piece of history before he departs at the end of the Bundesliga campaign next week.

Leverkusen are unbeaten in 33 away games in the German top flight (23 wins, 10 draws), the joint-longest run in the competition's history alongside Bayern, who achieved that feat between 2012 and 2014.