Manchester City Eyes Xabi Alonso as Guardiola’s Successor Amid Real Madrid Interest
With Real Madrid’s interest looming, according to ‘As’, Manchester City is considering Xabi Alonso as a replacement for Guardiola, who previously had the former midfielder under his tutelage during his Bayern Munich tenure.
Xabi Alonso is making waves in international football. The Basque coach guided Bayer Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title, stands on the brink of Europa League semifinals, and will contest the DFB-Pokal final against Kaiserslautern next May. Undoubtedly, he has delivered outstanding results this season with a team that lacks the top resources in the country.
Alonso’s achievement gains more significance when considering that he took over the team a year and a half ago when they were battling relegation. The outcome has been more than satisfactory, notably ending Bayern Munich’s dominance in Germany, as the Bavarians had clinched the last eleven league titles.
He has become the hottest coaching commodity in Europe. With a contract until 2026, Alonso has become a revered figure at Leverkusen, and while the club has not fueled rumors of his departure from Germany, their CEO Fernando Carro has acknowledged it’s “likely” that Alonso will end up at Madrid.
However, Aritz Gabilondo, head of the International Section at ‘As’, raises Manchester City’s name because Guardiola’s contract ends in 2025, after eight seasons at the helm. Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti, who recently signed a contract extension, concludes his tenure with Real Madrid in 2026.
Hence, Real Madrid might face a tough competitor in their bid to appoint Xabi Alonso as their next coach. The club is not entirely confident, given Guardiola coached Alonso during their time at Bayern Munich. However, they recall Alonso’s significant impact at the Bernabéu, where he played between 2010 and 2014, becoming a true icon. The battle has already begun, and each party must play its cards wisely; let’s hope Ancelotti’s successor matches the caliber of Xabi.
