In a statement published this Friday, Bayer Leverkusen, a Bundesliga club, announced the contract extension of their coach, Xabi Alonso. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid legend is now tied to the German club until 2026.
“Bayer 04 Leverkusen has prematurely extended the contract of head coach Xabi Alonso by two years. The new contract of the Spanish coach runs until June 30, 2026. Alonso took over the club last October and led them to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals and a sixth-place finish in the final Bundesliga table,” the club stated in its publication.
Reacting to the extension, Alonso expressed his joy. “I am very grateful for the trust Bayer 04 has placed in me. The fact that we are convinced of the same idea and direction in the sporting direction ensures a great closeness and trust between the club officials and me. It is a very good working basis. It’s another reason why I really enjoy my work with my staff and all the employees of Bayer 04. I see the past season as positive. But I want more, just like the club. We are now working on it with determination,” said the Spanish coach in the club’s statement.
Xabier Alonso Olano, known as Xabi Alonso, was born on November 25, 1981, in Tolosa (Basque Country, Spain). He is a former Spanish international footballer who has now become a coach. During his illustrious playing career, he notably won the Champions League with Liverpool in June 2004, in his first season, after an incredible final where he scored the equalizing goal.
In 2009, he joined Real Madrid for a transfer fee of 35 million euros. In a team composed of numerous stars, he won the Copa del Rey, La Liga, and the Supercup, as well as the Champions League again in 2014, although he missed the final due to suspension. He ended his career at Bayern Munich, where he won the Bundesliga three times in a row until retiring from the pitch in 2017.
