Xabi Alonso mentioned he hopes to make Actual Madrid an “unstoppable drive” in his presentation because the membership’s new coach, whereas thanking Carlo Ancelotti, saying he “would not be right here” with out his predecessor’s affect.
Alonso, 43, has signed a three-year contract on the membership, taking cost from June 1, along with his first problem being main the staff at subsequent month’s Membership World Cup.
The membership mentioned goodbye to Ancelotti — who has already flown to Brazil to take cost of the nationwide staff — on Saturday after a 2-0 win over Actual Sociedad of their final sport of the LaLiga season.
“We wish to carry emotion and pleasure to the followers,” Alonso mentioned, in a speech at Madrid’s Valdebebas coaching floor on Monday. “We would like those that come to the stadium to get pleasure from themselves, and people watching on tv to say ‘that is my Actual Madrid.’ If we handle to do this, we’ll be an unstoppable drive.”
Alonso formally signed his new Madrid contract — which runs till June 30, 2028 — accompanied by president Florentino Pérez, earlier than being formally launched as coach, and taking questions from the media in his first information convention.
He was requested numerous questions on his tactical imaginative and prescient for the staff, saying he “has concepts” for how you can finest mix Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, and revealing he desires Jude Bellingham to be “as environment friendly as doable,” stressing that he desires the England star to play as a midfielder.
“We’re fortunate to have gamers of that stage, not simply Kylian and Vinícius,” Alonso mentioned. “They’re two gamers who make the distinction, and we’ve got to get the most effective out of them. I’ve concepts and we’ll work on it … That is my job now.”
“Right this moment a brand new coach arrives, who’s already the most effective on the earth, and is aware of what this Actual Madrid shirt means,” Pérez mentioned. “All of us knew what your future can be, if you first sat on a bench in 2018, to educate the beneath 14s. Right this moment you come back to Actual Madrid as first staff coach, to face one of many greatest challenges of your life.”
Alonso made 236 appearances as a Actual Madrid participant between 2009 and 2014, successful six trophies, and later started his teaching profession on the membership’s academy.
He then took a job with boyhood membership Actual Sociedad’s B staff, earlier than taking up Bayer Leverkusen in 2022, changing them from relegation candidates into 2024 Bundesliga champions.
“It is a very special occasion for me, a day that can stick with me for all times,” Alonso mentioned. “My hyperlink with Actual Madrid has all the time been there. I really feel like that is the start of one thing … I believe the followers are excited to start this new interval, to do new issues.
“Earlier than speaking concerning the new period, I wish to speak concerning the one which has ended. Carlo [Ancelotti] was my coach, an amazing particular person, an enormous affect on me. With out his educating, what I learnt from him, I most likely would not be right here. I tackle his legacy with numerous delight. I hope to stay as much as expectations and take this membership to the place we wish it to be.
“We have now an amazing staff, we’ve got implausible gamers, we’ve got a staff that may have an amazing future. I come right here with power, pleasure about getting the most effective out of them, and constructing an amazing staff, believing we are able to obtain essential issues, worthy of Actual Madrid, worthy of those European Cups.”
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Rafa Benítez gives phrases of recommendation to Xabi Alonso forward of Madrid transfer
Former Liverpool and Actual Madrid supervisor Rafa Benítez provides his ideas on Xabi Alonso’s imminent transfer to Actual Madrid.
Alonso had been Madrid’s long-term high goal to succeed Ancelotti, and arrives after a season which has seen the membership fail to win a significant trophy for the primary time since 2021.
After getting began subsequent week, he may have little time to regulate, with the staff heading to the USA for the Membership World Cup forward of their first sport towards Al Hilal in Miami, Florida on June 18.
Alonso known as taking up earlier than the event “a possibility,” saying he desires his staff to be “versatile” and “dynamic,” and admitting that he has already analysed Madrid’s video games this season.
The rebuilding of the staff forward of 2025-26 has already begun. Madrid have signed centre-back Dean Huijsen and sources have instructed ESPN they’re hoping to usher in right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold in time for the Membership World Cup. They’re additionally engaged on a deal for Benfica left-back Álvaro Carreras.
“It is our duty to all the time enhance, in each facet of play, and of squad planning,” Alonso mentioned, when requested if he had requested a midfield signing to interchange the departing Luka Modrić. “I wish to have that communication with the membership, about how we are able to enhance … However now it is not about calls for, it is about being excited to work with the staff.”
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick mentioned he’s “completely satisfied” to see Alonso take over at his staff’s arch-rivals.
Requested about Alonso’s appointment, Flick mentioned after Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Athletic Membership on Sunday: “It was not a shock, huh? I additionally spoke with him when he labored in Leverkusen. I spoke many occasions with him. I like him. I do know his philosophy. It is good to see his success in Germany on a extremely excessive stage with a staff, Leverkusen. Additionally the gamers enhance so much beneath his administration. I wish to see him right here. I’m completely satisfied to see him right here.”
Data from ESPN’s Sam Marsden contributed to this report.
