Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen side are currently top of the Bundesliga having notched five wins and a draw from their six league games so far this season
Bayer Leverkusen have rubbished rumours linking manager Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid.
The Spaniard spent five years at the Bernabeu as a player, winning the Champions League and La Liga and establishing himself as a revered figure with the fans. Indeed, after gaining his UEFA Elite coaching qualification in 2018, he returned to the club to take charge of one of their academy sides.
But after a stint as manager of Real Sociedad B he took over at Leverkusen in October 2022, guiding the German club to the Europa League semi finals. And they’ve started this season on fire, taking 16 points from 18 in the Bundesliga to sit top of the table.
But their early-season form has come amid Alonso, 41, being reportedly lined up to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real. The Italian is widely expected to take the Brazil national job at the end of the 2023/24 season, with his former player outlined as his long-term replacement.