Xabi Alonso set to leave Leverkusen at end of the season

Bayer Leverkusen manager, Xabi Alonso, has officially announced in a pre-match press conference ahead of their clash with Borussia Dortmund that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder took charge of the German club in October 2022, recording 89 wins, 31 draws, and 18 losses—a win rate of 64.4%.

Under his leadership, Leverkusen have won the Bundesliga, with an unbeatable record, the DFB-Pokal, and the German Super Cup.

Ahead of Leverkusen’s league home match against Dortmund, Alonso stated that it was the right time to announce his departure.

“The club and I have reached an agreement; these will be my last two games with the team. We believe it’s the right time to part ways, and today is the right time to make this decision public. We’ve maintained good communication with the club throughout.

“The first season was the most complex, the second was historic, and this one brought the most challenges. We were the defending champions and played in the Champions League. Though it was tough, I learned a lot and experienced tremendous growth.”

Meanwhile, the Spanish gaffer chose not to disclose his future plans, stating it was yet the time.

“Now is not the time to talk about what’s next, because we want to have a beautiful farewell on Sunday. It’s a moment full of emotions. We’ve walked the right path together over these years, and there are still two very exciting matches left.”

“Football and life are both about finding the right moment. That’s how I see it. We hope this farewell reflects that, especially considering the long, beautiful, and important time we’ve spent here. I want to enjoy every final moment.”

Xabi Alonso is rumoured to become Real Madrid’s new head coach, as Carlo Ancelotti is also set to leave at the end of the season.

Alonso also expressed his gratitude, while describing his time with the club as an unforgettable one. “I’m very thankful, and we can all be proud of what we’ve achieved during these unforgettable three years,” he said.