title: Carlo Ancelotti's Decision on Real Madrid's Future Revealed, According to Onda Cero
Carlo Ancelotti's future at Real Madrid appears to be beyond the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, as rumors swirl that the Italian coach has informed the Spanish giants he won't renew his contract past the 2024-25 campaign, according to Onda Cero. Despite a strong start to the season with Real Madrid atop La Liga and still competing in the UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey, Ancelotti's contract extension last year won't save him from departing after the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, per the segment.
Ancelotti and his future at Real Madrid
Recent setbacks have placed pressure on Ancelotti. Reaching the end of November with defeats against Milan, Liverpool, Athlétic Club, and two heavy losses to FC Barcelona in the league and Spanish Super Cup finish have left Ancelotti in a precarious situation. Despite these troubles, Ancelotti publicly stated in December that he has no intention of leaving, emphasizing his commitment to the club and his contract.
However, recent developments suggest that Ancelotti has taken the initiative to decide his future, as reported by Onda Cero. Regardless of the club's success the rest of the season, it appears likely that Ancelotti will depart after the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. The 65-year-old coach is not considering retirement, but instead considers coaching elsewhere after declining an offer to manage the Brazilian national team last season.
Who could replace Ancelotti at Real Madrid?
Xabi Alonso is tentatively pegged as the prime candidate to succeed Ancelotti, leveraging his strong connection with the club stemming from his playing days with Real Madrid. Alonso has led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title and currently sits in second place in the Bundesliga standings, four points behind Bayern Munich. Alonso extended his contract with Leverkusen to 2026 late last year, but his impressive performance as a coach has placed him firmly in the conversation for the Real Madrid job.
Xabi Alonso
Alonso’s complete skillset, including tactical vision, strong organization skills and understanding of positional play, has garnered critical acclaim for his work at Leverkusen. A former midfielder for the Spanish national team, Alonso also brings valuable experience playing for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2014, joining from Liverpool and eventually departing for Bayern Munich in 2019. His deep connection with the club, along with his highly successful managerial tenure in Germany, makes Alonso an intriguing candidate to replace Ancelotti.
Other notable contenders include Zinedine Zidane, Raúl González Blanco, and Santiago Solari. Zidane, as a legendary figure in Real Madrid's history, is well-liked by fans and has an admirable resume of three consecutive Champions League titles and two La Liga titles with the club. However, some question whether Zidane's approach will be dated in the modern era.
Raúl González Blanco’s resume as an eternal club captain, coupled with his training as a coach within Real Madrid’s youth academy, sets him apart. His connections with the club and values of Madridismo endear him to fans, but his lack of elite coaching experience has some concerned.
Lastly, Santiago Solari, an interim coach for Real Madrid during the 2018-19 season, could emerge as a stopgap solution if no immediate replacement is found for Ancelotti.
Despite Ancelotti's commitment to Real Madrid earlier this season, recent reports suggest that he might not renew his contract beyond 2025. Xabi Alonso, a former Real Madrid player and current manager of Bayer Leverkusen, could be the prime candidate to replace Ancelotti, given his impressive managerial record and deep connection with the club.