Xabi Alonso, ‘one of the greatest legends of Real Madrid’, appointed as head coach | Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso has been appointed as Actual Madrid’s supervisor on a three-year contract. The previous Madrid and Spain midfielder, who introduced he was leaving Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month, will substitute Carlo Ancelotti, who’s changing into Brazil’s first international head coach.

Ancelotti led Madrid to a farewell 2-0 victory over Actual Sociedad on Saturday and Alonso will now take over in time for the Membership World Cup, which begins subsequent month.

In an announcement, Madrid stated it “broadcasts that Xabi Alonso can be Actual Madrid’s supervisor for the following three seasons, from 1 June 2025 30 to June 2028. Xabi Alonso is likely one of the biggest legends of Actual Madrid and world soccer.”

As a Madrid participant, Alonso performed 236 matches, profitable the Champions League, La Liga, two Copa del Rey titles, the European Tremendous Cup and the Spanish Tremendous Cup. He memorably helmed Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title within the 2023-24 season, and now returns to Spain, within the phrases of Madrid, “as among the finest coaches on the planet”. Alonso can be formally unveiled as the brand new supervisor on Monday.

After Leverkusen’s double final season, consisting of an unbeaten league marketing campaign and victory within the German Cup, they completed second this time round, 13 factors behind Bayern Munich. His final recreation in cost was a 2-2 draw at Mainz – the membership’s twelfth draw of 34 matches within the league.

Having pledged his future to the German membership final summer season, Alonso revealed this month: “Now we have agreed that these two video games are going to be my final two video games as a Bayern Leverkusen coach. Now we have been speaking throughout this week that’s all the time in regards to the second and now’s the best second to announce it.”

Juventus safe Champions League spot

Manuel Locatelli’s penalty earned Juventus a 3-2 win at Venezia to safe his facet a Champions League spot and relegate the hosts, with Empoli additionally condemned to Serie B after a 2-1 loss at dwelling to Hellas Verona.

Venezia acquired off to the right begin with Daniel Fila placing them in entrance within the second minute however Juventus hit again with Kenan Yildiz levelling after 25 minutes and Randal Kolo Muani scored six minutes later as Juventus led on the break.

Ridgeciano Haps equalised for Venezia 10 minutes after the interval however Locatelli’s penalty 17 minutes from time put an finish to the house facet’s hope of salvation. Juventus finish the season fourth within the standings, one level forward of Roma, who should accept Europa League soccer regardless of a 2-0 win at Torino.

Fiorentina’s 3-2 win at Udinese means they completed sixth which provides them a spot within the Convention League, after ending stage on factors with Lazio however with the higher head-to-head file. Lazio fell to a 1-0 loss at dwelling to Lecce, which noticed the guests, who completed seventeenth, safe their place in Serie A.

Two objectives from Daniel Maldini weren’t sufficient for Atalanta, who let a two-goal lead slip away in a 3-2 dwelling loss to Parma, securing the guests’ place in Serie A subsequent season within the final match of the marketing campaign. Antoine Hainaut dragged Parma again into the sport earlier than Jacob Ondrejka struck twice to finish the comeback.

In Spain a speedy pair of objectives by Robert Lewandowski early within the first half and a penalty by Dani Olmo deep in added time ensured a cushty 3-0 victory for Barcelona over Athletic Bilbao, ending the season on a excessive be aware for the La Liga champions.

Union Saint-Gilloise ended their 90-year watch for the Belgian league title however needed to endure a nervy afternoon earlier than beating guests Gent 3-1 to complete three factors forward of second-placed Membership Brugge.

The Brussels membership went agonisingly shut within the final two seasons and confronted the potential of one other last-day calamity earlier than the substitute Promise David got here on within the second half to attain twice within the house of seven minutes and guarantee their title triumph.

Franjo Ivanovic put Union Saint-Gilloise in entrance earlier than Andri Gudjohnsen equalised for Gent. However the Canadian-born David got here off the bench to steer dwelling his first within the 68th minute after which head dwelling one other within the seventy fifth minute to kick off the USG celebrations.

Kevin Mac Allister, brother of Liverpool’s Alexis, grew to become a champion with USG on the day his sibling obtained his Premier League winner’s medal.