Xabi Alonso announces departure from Bayer Leverkusen as Spanish coach closes in on Real Madrid switch

The Spanish coach has achieved unprecedented success with Leverkusen, guiding them to a first ever Bundesliga title as well as the DFB-Pokal trophy last season. The German side also reached the Europa League final that season, where they suffered their only defeat in all competitions.

Their success under Alonso resulted in reports he will replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, with the Italian set to bow out at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, and Alonso will have added to the speculation after telling reporters that he will soon leave Leverkusen.

"The club and I agreed this week that the next two Bundesliga games will be my last as coach of Leverkusen," he said, with Sky reporting that he is on his way to Madrid.

Leverkusen have secured second place in the Bundesliga and will play their final home game of the season against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday before Alonso's last match in charge against Mainz the following Saturday. It appears the coach will then return to the club he spent five years with as a player.