(foto: Screenshot)
Xabi Alonso shared an emotional moment with Bayer Leverkusen fans after his final home game as manager, with a move to Real Madrid now imminent.
Xabi Alonso said an emotional farewell to Bayer Leverkusen fans on Sunday by joining them in the stands after his final home match in charge of the Bundesliga champions.
The 43-year-old Spaniard, who led Leverkusen through an historic unbeaten domestic campaign last season, has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the 2024–25 campaign. His final game will be away at Mainz, marking the end of a transformative two-and-a-half year reign.
Alonso departs after guiding Leverkusen to a domestic treble — winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and German Super Cup — while also reaching the Europa League final. Across 139 matches in charge, he boasts a remarkable 63% win ratio and leaves the BayArena as a club legend.
After Sunday’s match, Alonso climbed into the stands to share a special moment with Leverkusen’s supporters, soaking in chants and applause during a heartfelt send-off. The images quickly went viral, symbolising the bond he built with the fanbase during a golden era for the club.
A return to Real Madrid now awaits. Alonso is widely expected to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabéu this summer, beginning a new chapter at a club where he previously starred as a player. He is set to lead Madrid into the FIFA Club World Cup in June as his first official assignment.
Leverkusen fans may be sad to see him go, but they know Alonso departs having etched his name into club history.
Written by Barbara Cerar, Editor-in-Chief at en.nogomania.com. Follow us for more stories from international football.