MADRID (AP) — Xabi Alonso formally took over Actual Madrid’s teaching job on Monday, vowing to observe within the footsteps of Carlo Ancelotti and saying he has “an excellent feeling” in regards to the group’s future beneath his command.
Madrid introduced the hiring of Alonso on Sunday, a day after the membership paid tribute to Ancelotti on the group’s last Spanish league match of the season on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Ancelotti is taking on the Brazil job after 4 principally profitable seasons in his second stint with the membership.
“I’m right here to take over from Carlo Ancelotti, who was my coach and is a good individual,” Alonso mentioned. “He’s a coach who left his mark on me and had an amazing affect. With out his steering, I in all probability wouldn’t be right here. I’ll choose up his legacy with pleasure and honor of now being within the place that Carlo was earlier than, and I hope to stay as much as the expectations and lead this membership to realize all of its aims.”
He mentioned he’ll attempt to instil his personal model at Madrid, however didn’t give many hints about his ways. He emphasised the will to play ambitiously and with a proactive angle.
“You must be versatile in soccer immediately, it’s a must to be dynamic,” Alonso mentioned. “I can transfer items throughout a recreation or earlier than a recreation. I’ve an thought already of what I’m going to do, however it may possibly change. What I would like is for the group to transmit emotion, vitality, to indicate that we wish to be bold.”
Alonso mentioned it felt good returning dwelling to Madrid, the place he gained six titles as a participant from 2009-2014.
“Unquestionably it is a very big day for me,” Alonso mentioned. ”I’m very completely happy to be at a spot the place I really feel is my dwelling. I’ll have been just a few years away, however the hyperlink with Actual Madrid and Madrid followers has all the time existed.”
The ceremony to introduce Alonso started with the exhibiting of a video with a few of Alonso’s highlights as a participant for Madrid, Spain and different golf equipment the place he performed as a midfielder. There have been additionally highlights of his stints as a coach at Madrid’s youth squads, Actual Sociedad’s “B” group and with Bayer Leverkusen, which he left after this season.
The 43-year-old Alonso, who arrives on a contract till June 2028, watched the video alongside his spouse and different invitees.
“Immediately is a really big day for all of us, it’s the beginning of a brand new section,” Madrid president Florentino Pérez mentioned. ”As a result of we’ve got a brand new coach who already is among the finest on the planet and who represents the values of Actual Madrid as a result of he is aware of precisely what this protect and this shirt means.”
Alonso is returning to Actual Madrid to take over a membership that failed to fulfill expectations this season. It gained the UEFA Tremendous Cup title however principally struggled after that, failing to elevate one other trophy and shedding all 4 “clásico” matches in opposition to rival Barcelona, which clinched a league and cup double.
“We’ve got an amazing group, with unbelievable gamers,” Alonso mentioned. “I’m satisfied that I can obtain essential issues, worthy of Actual Madrid. I wish to encourage the followers, make them pleased with the group that they see on the sector. I’ve an excellent feeling that we will begin one thing nice.”
He gained’t have loads of time to get the group ready, although, because the Membership World Cup begins in June.
“These have been the circumstances and I see it as a possibility,” Alonso mentioned. “It can assist expedite a few of the processes as we get to know one another, and it’ll additionally give us a possibility to win a title. It might be an amazing begin.”
Alonso helped Madrid win the Spanish league in 2012 and the 2014 Champions League earlier than leaving to assist Bayern Munich win three Bundesliga titles.
As a coach, Alonso led Leverkusen to an unprecedented German league and cup double final yr in his first full season after taking on the group when it was within the Bundesliga’s relegation zone the season earlier than.
His group turned the primary to finish an entire Bundesliga marketing campaign unbeaten. Leverkusen’s solely defeat in 2023-24 was to Atalanta within the Europa League last, and it bounced again three days later by profitable the 2024 German Cup.
“I really feel that this was the proper second (to return to Madrid), for each side,” Alonso mentioned. “I felt it since yesterday, seeing the followers excited and believing. That offers me vitality.”
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