VIDEO: Xabi Alonso joins Bayer Leverkusen fans in the stands for emotional goodbye in final home game after confirming exit - with Real Madrid move imminent

The World Cup-winning Spaniard has announced that he will be leaving his current role once the 2024-25 campaign comes to a close. He has just one more fixture left to take in, away at Mainz.

That contest will be Alonso’s 140th at the helm, with an impressive win ratio of 63 per cent being posted across his two-and-a-half years in Leverkusen. Alonso savoured title glory last season as his team went unbeaten through an 'invincible' domestic campaign.

Leverkusen also won the DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup in 2024, while reaching the Europa League final. That success has earned former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich star Alonso legend status at BayArena.

The 43-year-old received a fitting send-off at the end of his final home game, as he clambered into the crowd and soaked up the acclaim of a passionate fanbase that will be sad to see him go.

The expectation is that Alonso will be back at Santiago Bernabeu next season, with the ex-Spain international preparing to return to his homeland and succeed Carlo Ancelotti in the most demanding of roles at Real Madrid.