European giants set to challenge Real Madrid as they look to appoint Xabi Alonso as next manager - Reports
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have identified Real Madrid target Xabi Alonso as a possible replacement for Luis Enrique for the managerial role, according to El Nacional. The Bayer Leverkusen manager guided the club to the Bundesliga title and the DFB Pokal in the 2023-24 season.
Alonso's men lost just one game across competitions last campaign, against Atalanta in the Europa League final. His efforts have already struck a chord at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Carlo Ancelotti's position under pressure.
Real Madrid's season hasn't gone according to plans and the Italian manager is feeling the heat right now. Ancelotti's contract with the LaLiga champions expires in 2026 but it is believed that he could make way for Xabi Alonso next summer.
However, Los Blancos will face competition from PSG in their attempts to prise the Spaniard away from the BayArena. The Parisians have struggled under Luis Enrique this season and are 25th in the Champions League table after five games.
The reigning Ligue 1 champions could miss out on a place in the knockout stages of the tournament. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is running out of patience and has identified Xabi Alonso as an option.
The Spaniard has registered a 65.14 percent win ratio with Bayer Leverkusen, winning 71 of his 109 games in charge and losing just 13. While Real Madrid and PSG remain hot on his heels, the Bundesliga club will be desperate to keep hold of Alonso. His contract at the BayArena runs until 2026.
How many games has Xabi Alonso played for Real Madrid?
Xabi Alonso arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 from Liverpool for a reported £30m fee. The Spanish midfielder spent five seasons with Los Blancos, winning the league, the Champions League, the Supercopa de Espana, and two Copa del Reys.
Alonso registered 236 appearances for the LaLiga champions, chipping in with six goals and 31 assists. Interestingly, he played his final season at the club under Carlo Ancelotti, registering 42 appearances across competitions.
Xabi Alonso left the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2014 to move to Bayern Munich. He enjoyed an impressive run at the Allianz Arena as well, registering nine goals and 12 assists from 117 games.
The Spaniard hung up his boots in 2017, before venturing into football management. Interestingly, he was briefly a part of Real Madrid's under-14's coaching team in 2018, while undertaking his UEFA Elite coaching course. Alonso then spent time in charge of Real Sociedad's B-team before taking over at Leverkusen in October 2022.