Xabi Alonso to Debut as Real Madrid Coach

On May 12, journalist Siro Lopez revealed on the program "Sunday Tea Talk" that Xabi Alonso will make his debut as Real Madrid's coach at the Club World Cup, starting on June 15.

Carlo Ancelotti is set to step down as Real Madrid's head coach soon, following the conclusion of the La Liga season with three matches remaining. Alonso, currently the head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, has announced his departure from the German club this week, and it appears he will take over at Real Madrid.

La Liga will conclude on May 25, while Real Madrid's Club World Cup campaign begins on June 15. Due to the tight schedule between the two events, there were doubts about Alonso being ready to coach the final tournament of the 2024-25 season. However, Siro Lopez confirmed that the coach from San Sebastián will indeed make his appearance on schedule:
"On Friday, there were reports regarding residency issues related to tax declarations, which initially suggested Alonso would officially take over on July 1. However, I have learned today that he has, in principle, accepted Real Madrid's request and is tentatively set to lead the team in the Club World Cup."