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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than a decade since departing Real Madrid as a club legend, having marshalled the midfield magnificently, Xabi Alonso has returned to the Spanish capital. This time as Los Blancos’ head coach.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alonso served as choir conductor extraordinaire in the Madrid midfield, now he will be pulling the strings from the sidelines for Los Blancos. The former Spain international has signed a three-year deal with the record European champions. He replaces Italian Carlo Ancelotti, who has taken over Brazil. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is unequivocally the hardest job of Alonso’s fledgling coaching career and only his second major undertaking. However, he arrives in Madrid as the hero of Bayer Leverkusen following a magical three-season </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-04-16-south-africa-need-its-own-bayer-leverkusen-to-halt-sundowns-streak/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spell in Germany</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I feel immense pride, responsibility, excitement and energy to come back to where I felt at home. I’m eager to start out on this new chapter,” Alonso said on his return to Madrid.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I won’t get giddy, the demands reflect brilliantly on all Carlo achieved. It’s a challenge, but we want to do things that inspire and excite ‘madridismo’. That’s what my coaching staff and I are coming here to do. I’m sure we have the energy to give us the extra boost we need,” the 43-year-old added.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2736625\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2216534559.jpg\" alt=\"Xabi Alonso\" width=\"1808\" height=\"1121\" /> <em>New Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso in Madrid on 26 May 2025. (Photo: Maria Gracia Jimenez / Soccrates / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Big shoes to fill</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As Alonso points out, filling the gargantuan shoes of Ancelotti will be a particularly tough task. The Italian won La Liga twice during his second spell with Los Blancos. He and his troops also conquered Europe on two occasions. Ironically, Ancelotti was the manager when Alonso and his Real teammates won the Champions League in 2014. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall, it was a fruitful second stay for Ancelotti, who rejoined Madrid in 2021 (having worked there from 2013 to 2015). In spite of these achievements, the Italian mentor’s final season was disastrous. They failed to win any major silverware and were also walloped four times in row by sworn foes Barcelona in this campaign.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a season to forget for the 15-time European champions. The only highlight was the team’s marquee signing, Kylian Mbappé, settling in relatively seamlessly to life at his dream club. Despite Madrid’s general struggles in the 2024/25 campaign, Mbappé shone as he banged in the goals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Frenchman ended the season as LaLiga’s top scorer, with 31 goals to second-placed Robert Lewandowski’s 27. The fact that he achieved this despite not being at his optimum and while playing in centrally (as opposed to occupying his favoured left wing) will undoubtedly excite Alonso.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Building blocks</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What will be a less-exciting challenge is fostering synergy between the attacking players in particular. This season, there were times where Mbappé and Vinicius Jnr seemed to be in each other’s way. Although there were also occasions where they were in sync. Alonso’s task will be to ensure that the latter is the prevailing situation from next season. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2736628\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/12898027.jpg\" alt=\"Real Madrid Alonso\" width=\"1761\" height=\"1174\" /> <em>Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé (right) and Vinicius Jnr during a Spanish LaLiga match against Villarreal in Villarreal, Spain, on 15 March 2025. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Andreu Esteban)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I like that question because football today demands that you can be flexible, dynamic and move pieces around. I have some ideas of how I’d like to play and I want the team to show emotion, energy and to connect with the crowd. That symbiosis will be crucial,” Alonso said about how he envisions his Madrid team playing. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We have great players to work with and I want to get down to the day-to-day work so we can fulfil the potential of each one of them and start putting the pieces in place to build a team.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s incredible to have players of that quality, among many others as well. They’re two guys who make the difference and we have to get the very best out of them both,” Alonso said about Mbappé and Vinicius. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“If they give it their all, this will be a winning team. I have some ideas and there is still some time before I get to speak to them, but I’ll work on it. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Things work better when there’s good connection and communication. They’re top-level players and that’s my job,” he added.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2736626\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2217125050.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1778\" height=\"1139\" /> <em>Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso at the Valdebebas training ground in Madrid on 26 May 2025. (Photo: Image Photo Agency / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2736618\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2215287416.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1713\" height=\"1170\" /> <em>Coach Xabi Alonso and Alex Grimaldo after Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund at in Leverkusen, Germany, on 11 May 2025. (Photo: Jürgen Fromme – firo sportphoto / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Different situation</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The situation Alonso arrives to at Madrid is vastly different from the one he walked into at Bundesliga side Leverkusen in October 2022. He found Leverkusen languishing in the relegation zone early in the season and turned their fortunes around, leading them to a sixth-place finish.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The</span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-03-28-tough-task-xabi-alonso-has-potential-to-join-elite-manager-list-in-football/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 2023/24 season</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was one for the record books as Alonso led Leverkusen to a maiden national league title. They did it unbeaten too, so Alonso etched himself forever into German soccer folklore.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now he can write a different chapter with Madrid, adding to the incredible reputation he forged as a hard-nosed midfielder. Alonso is a winner, bagging a number of trophies at club and country level. He has transferred this spirit of triumph to his managerial career. But his cool and calm demeanour will be tested more than ever before under the blinding lights of the Madrid dugout. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than a decade since departing Real Madrid as a club legend, having marshalled the midfield magnificently, Xabi Alonso has returned to the Spanish capital. This time as Los Blancos’ head coach.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alonso served as choir conductor extraordinaire in the Madrid midfield, now he will be pulling the strings from the sidelines for Los Blancos. The former Spain international has signed a three-year deal with the record European champions. He replaces Italian Carlo Ancelotti, who has taken over Brazil. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is unequivocally the hardest job of Alonso’s fledgling coaching career and only his second major undertaking. However, he arrives in Madrid as the hero of Bayer Leverkusen following a magical three-season </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-04-16-south-africa-need-its-own-bayer-leverkusen-to-halt-sundowns-streak/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spell in Germany</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I feel immense pride, responsibility, excitement and energy to come back to where I felt at home. I’m eager to start out on this new chapter,” Alonso said on his return to Madrid.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I won’t get giddy, the demands reflect brilliantly on all Carlo achieved. It’s a challenge, but we want to do things that inspire and excite ‘madridismo’. That’s what my coaching staff and I are coming here to do. I’m sure we have the energy to give us the extra boost we need,” the 43-year-old added.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2736625\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1808\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2736625\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2216534559.jpg\" alt=\"Xabi Alonso\" width=\"1808\" height=\"1121\" /> <em>New Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso in Madrid on 26 May 2025. (Photo: Maria Gracia Jimenez / Soccrates / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Big shoes to fill</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As Alonso points out, filling the gargantuan shoes of Ancelotti will be a particularly tough task. The Italian won La Liga twice during his second spell with Los Blancos. He and his troops also conquered Europe on two occasions. Ironically, Ancelotti was the manager when Alonso and his Real teammates won the Champions League in 2014. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall, it was a fruitful second stay for Ancelotti, who rejoined Madrid in 2021 (having worked there from 2013 to 2015). In spite of these achievements, the Italian mentor’s final season was disastrous. They failed to win any major silverware and were also walloped four times in row by sworn foes Barcelona in this campaign.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a season to forget for the 15-time European champions. The only highlight was the team’s marquee signing, Kylian Mbappé, settling in relatively seamlessly to life at his dream club. Despite Madrid’s general struggles in the 2024/25 campaign, Mbappé shone as he banged in the goals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Frenchman ended the season as LaLiga’s top scorer, with 31 goals to second-placed Robert Lewandowski’s 27. The fact that he achieved this despite not being at his optimum and while playing in centrally (as opposed to occupying his favoured left wing) will undoubtedly excite Alonso.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Building blocks</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What will be a less-exciting challenge is fostering synergy between the attacking players in particular. This season, there were times where Mbappé and Vinicius Jnr seemed to be in each other’s way. Although there were also occasions where they were in sync. Alonso’s task will be to ensure that the latter is the prevailing situation from next season. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2736628\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1761\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2736628\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/12898027.jpg\" alt=\"Real Madrid Alonso\" width=\"1761\" height=\"1174\" /> <em>Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé (right) and Vinicius Jnr during a Spanish LaLiga match against Villarreal in Villarreal, Spain, on 15 March 2025. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Andreu Esteban)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I like that question because football today demands that you can be flexible, dynamic and move pieces around. I have some ideas of how I’d like to play and I want the team to show emotion, energy and to connect with the crowd. That symbiosis will be crucial,” Alonso said about how he envisions his Madrid team playing. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We have great players to work with and I want to get down to the day-to-day work so we can fulfil the potential of each one of them and start putting the pieces in place to build a team.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s incredible to have players of that quality, among many others as well. They’re two guys who make the difference and we have to get the very best out of them both,” Alonso said about Mbappé and Vinicius. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“If they give it their all, this will be a winning team. I have some ideas and there is still some time before I get to speak to them, but I’ll work on it. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Things work better when there’s good connection and communication. They’re top-level players and that’s my job,” he added.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2736626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1778\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2736626\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2217125050.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1778\" height=\"1139\" /> <em>Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso at the Valdebebas training ground in Madrid on 26 May 2025. (Photo: Image Photo Agency / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2736618\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1713\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2736618\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2215287416.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1713\" height=\"1170\" /> <em>Coach Xabi Alonso and Alex Grimaldo after Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund at in Leverkusen, Germany, on 11 May 2025. (Photo: Jürgen Fromme – firo sportphoto / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Different situation</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The situation Alonso arrives to at Madrid is vastly different from the one he walked into at Bundesliga side Leverkusen in October 2022. He found Leverkusen languishing in the relegation zone early in the season and turned their fortunes around, leading them to a sixth-place finish.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The</span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-03-28-tough-task-xabi-alonso-has-potential-to-join-elite-manager-list-in-football/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 2023/24 season</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was one for the record books as Alonso led Leverkusen to a maiden national league title. 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New Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso in Madrid on 26 May 2025. (Photo: Maria Gracia Jimenez / Soccrates / Getty Images)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé (right) and Vinicius Jnr during a Spanish LaLiga match against Villarreal in Villarreal, Spain, on 15 March 2025. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Andreu Esteban)
Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso at the Valdebebas training ground in Madrid on 26 May 2025. (Photo: Image Photo Agency / Getty Images)
Coach Xabi Alonso and Alex Grimaldo after Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund at in Leverkusen, Germany, on 11 May 2025. (Photo: Jürgen Fromme – firo sportphoto / Getty Images)