Xabi Alonso at the Gates of Real Madrid

It’s beginning to feel very real: Xabi Alonso may soon be wearing the manager’s suit at the Santiago Bernabéu. While nothing is officially signed, the growing smoke around his potential return suggests the fire is close behind. What makes this moment so electric isn’t just Alonso’s connection to Real Madrid—it’s the sense that he’s walking into a role he’s been preparing for all along.

Carlo Ancelotti’s quiet departure has left a vacuum, but also a blessing. The Italian, always composed and measured, didn’t hold back in expressing admiration for Alonso. Coming from a manager who has seen success across Europe, those words carry weight. More than a polite nod, this feels like a ceremonial handover of the torch.

Alonso’s rise from midfield maestro to managerial phenomenon has been nothing short of meteoric. What he did with Bayer Leverkusen is already being talked about as the stuff of Bundesliga folklore. A team long in the shadows, Leverkusen found its swagger under Alonso, and for a time, looked like a club reborn.

That kind of magic doesn’t go unnoticed in Madrid, especially when it’s being crafted by one of their own.

The excitement around Alonso is more than nostalgia. It’s strategic.

Real Madrid has always been a club that blends elite performance with personality. Alonso embodies both. He understands the culture—because he lived it. He knows what it means to manage egos, how to calm storms in a high-pressure locker room, and, most importantly, how to win without losing identity.

At 43, Alonso is younger than most of the men he might face across the technical area. Yet, that age is an asset. He’s not removed from the modern player’s mentality; he speaks their language and understands the rhythm of today’s game. That relatability, combined with his tactical clarity, makes him uniquely positioned to guide Madrid’s current generation into its next phase.

From a footballing perspective, his teams play with intelligence and composure—pressing with intent, building with patience, and striking with clinical timing. In many ways, it mirrors how Alonso played. If Real Madrid is looking for a coach who can bring structure without stifling flair, they may have just found him.