Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he will leave the club at the end of the season, ahead of Saturday’s match against Borussia Dortmund.
Alonso, who joined Leverkusen in October 2022, will end his tenure at the BayArena after the final Bundesliga game on May 17 against Mainz.
“I am extremely grateful to Bayer Leverkusen, the players and my staff, everyone at the club, and most importantly, the fantastic fans,” Alonso said in a statement. “Our success was the result of extraordinary teamwork. This club, which placed incredible trust in me, fully deserved to win the Bundesliga for the first time. Thank you and all my appreciation to everyone who helped make this triumph a reality, including our win in the German Cup. Leverkusen is ready for the future. This positive momentum will continue, and I will follow it with interest.”
The 43-year-old had an outstanding spell in charge of Leverkusen.
When he arrived, the team was close to the relegation zone, but Alonso led them to sixth place and the Europa League semifinals.
This laid the foundation for the 2023/24 season—the best in the club’s history: they won the Bundesliga for the first time and remained unbeaten, also lifting the German Cup. The defeat in the Europa League final against Atalanta was their only loss in 53 matches across all competitions.
Although this season didn’t reach the same heights, Leverkusen still finished second in the league behind Bayern Munich, who also knocked them out of the Champions League in the round of 16. In the German Cup, they reached the semifinals.
Alonso leaves with the highest points-per-match average (2.2) and highest win percentage (65 percent) in Leverkusen’s managerial history. He also set a Bundesliga record of 33 consecutive away matches without defeat, which could extend further in his final game.
Leverkusen’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, said: “This era has been a milestone in Bayer Leverkusen’s development. Together with Xabi, we built a team that amazed the football world with its quality and mentality. We are proud of the club’s tremendous progress and wish Xabi all the best in the future. I’m sure our paths will cross again.”
