Bundesliga
Xabi Alonso succeeds Gerardo Seoane as Leverkusen coach
Former Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Real Sociedad midfielder Xabi Alonso has stepped in to fill the void left by departing coach Gerardo Seoane at Bayer Leverkusen.
With Seoane dismissed after overseeing just one win in eight Bundesliga games and following a second loss in Champions League Group B, Alonso takes to the Bayer dugout for what will be his first senior coaching role since hanging up his playing boots in 2017.
The 44-year-old, who has since coached the Real Madrid youths as well as the second team at boyhood club Sociedad, has signed on the dotted line at the BayArena through to 30 June 2024.
"In Xabi Alonso we have brought in a coach who was an absolute world-class player for many years, an intelligent strategist and extremely successful at three of the most demanding European leagues," said Bayer sporting director Simon Rolfes.
A speaker of German, Basque, Spanish and English, Alonso enjoyed an illustrious playing career spanning 18 years.
The ex-midfielder won UEFA Champions League titles with Liverpool and Madrid, before adding three Bundesliga titles and the DFB Cup to his collection during a successful three-season stint at Bayern between 2014 and 2017. He was also part of Spain's 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2008 and 2012 UEFA Euro-winning teams.
Watch: Xabi Alonso's top five Bundesliga goals
"I know Leverkusen as an outstanding club from my time in Germany," commented Alonso. "Bayer 04 always had great players and I see a lot of quality in the current squad," said Alonso.
"In my discussions with the club it quickly became clear that ambitious targets are still the aim in spite of the current difficult situation. This job really attracts me and I'm sure we can live up to expectations."
The Alonso era begins at home to Schalke on Saturday, with Leverkusen second from bottom on five points from a possible 24.