'We'll be an unstoppable force!' - Xabi Alonso promises 'great things' at Real Madrid as new coach pays tribute to Carlo Ancelotti after replacing Italian manager

The Spaniard arrived at the club's training ground on Monday and addressed the media for the first time since it was announced he would take over at the helm following a successful spell in charge of Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso, who signed a three-year deal, promised to bring "great things" to the club after paying tribute to Ancelotti.

The 2024-25 campaign was a massive disappointment for Madrid as they lost out on all three trophies they were fighting for. They hope the man who shocked the football world by winning the Bundesliga with Leverkusen can propel them back to the top of European and Spanish football. Alonso's deep ties with the club as a former midfielder further strengthen his arrival as a symbolic yet strategic move.

"Before talking about the new stage, I don't want to forget to talk about the stage that has just ended," he said. "I'm taking over from Carlo Ancelotti, a coach who left his mark on me, and probably without his mastery and the learning I received from him I wouldn't be here. I take up the legacy with great honour and pride and I hope to be able to live up to expectations and take the club to all the places we want to go.

"We're starting a new era because I feel the club and the fans are united. We have fantastic players who have a very good present and a very bright future. We're here with the conviction of doing great things. To ignite the fans and make them enjoy themselves. If we manage to ignite that, we'll be an unstoppable force."

Alonso will start preparing to lead his team to the Club World Cup this summer and the Spanish giants will be looking to strengthen in the transfer market, starting with Trent Alexander-Arnold's imminent arrival.