Real Madrid legend Xabi Alonso is being tipped to takeover from Carlo Ancelotti as the club's next head coach at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Alonso has become one of the most highly-rated young managers in world football since taking over at Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022. Alonso's appointment almost instantaneously turned around the club's fortunes after a dreadful start to the 2022/23 season, eventually helping Leverkusen to a sixth place Bundesliga finish against the odds and into the Europa League.
The German side have already picked up at the start of 2023/24 where they previously left off too, winning four of their opening five league games so far - the only one they have failed to win was a 2-2 draw with perennial champions Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
According to Radio MARCA, the incredible work the retired midfielder is doing in the Bundesliga has not gone unnoticed by former club Real Madrid, who now see Alonso as their preferred option to take over from Ancelotti next season.
Ancelotti's current contract at the Santiago Bernabeu runs until June and the Italian is widely expected to be appointed as the new Brazil national team manager once that deal expires.
Speaking in June, Brazilian football federation (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues called Ancelotti the national team's "Plan A" for their next managerial appointment.
"Ancelotti is unanimously respected among the players. Not only Ronaldo Nazario or Vinicius Jr, but everyone who has played for him," he said.
"I really admire him for his honesty in the way he works and how constant his work is. He needs no introduction. He really is a top coach who has several achievements and we hope he can have even more. Ancelotti is not only the players' favourite, but he also seems to be the fans' favourite.
"We made a plan, the 'Plan A' is Ancelotti."
Alonso enjoyed an incredibly successful six-year stint at Real Madrid as a player, making 236 appearances and playing a key role in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League triumph. He finished his career with three years at Bayern Munich, before returning to Madrid as a youth coach and then landing his first senior gig in charge of first club Real Sociedad.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Real Madrid legend tipped to replace Carlo Ancelotti as manager.