Real Madrid have officially confirmed the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their new manager in a club statement posted on Sunday morning.
The Spanish giants announced that he would sign a three-year deal, beginning on June 1 and running to June 30, 2028.
This will see Alonso be able to take charge of the team for the upcoming Club World Cup, which begins on June 14.
Alonso, 38, is set to be unveiled as the new head coach of Los Blancos on Monday at 12:30pm local time.
The Spaniard has been heavily linked with the club after impressing in his first job in management at Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
In his first season at the helm in 2023-24, he guided them to the title unbeaten, as they failed to lose a single game.
Leverkusen failed to emulate their scintillating form of the last campaign by finishing a distant second to Bayern Munich this season.
However, the signing of Alonso is a major coup for Real as he is regarded as one of the most gifted coaches in world football.
Real Madrid's club statement read: 'Real Madrid CF announces that Xabi Alonso will be Real Madrid's manager for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028.
'Xabi Alonso is one of the greatest legends of Real Madrid and world football. He wore our shirt in 236 official matches between 2009 and 2014. During that time, he won six titles: the tenth European Cup in Lisbon, one European Super Cup, one La Liga title, two Copa del Rey titles, and one Spanish Super Cup.
'Now, he returns to Real Madrid as one of the best coaches in the world, after making history at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the League, Cup, and German Super Cup in three seasons.
'On Monday, May 26, at 12:30pm, Xabi Alonso will be presented as the new Real Madrid coach at an event to be held at Real Madrid City.'
His hiring comes after Real officially announced on Friday that Ancelotti would be leaving the club at the end of the season to take charge of the Brazil national team.
Ancelotti, 65, won the Champions League, Copa del Rey and LaLiga on two occasions in his second stint and will become the first foreign coach of the Selecao on May 26.
The resulting vacancy at Bayer Leverkusen is reportedly expected to be filled by ex-Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman having been out of management since he was sacked by the Red Devils in October.
According to The Athletic, ten Hag and Leverkusen are working on the final documents of their deal as the Dutchman nears a return to football.
He was dismissed earlier this season with Man United lying 14th in the Premier League after winning just four of their opening 14 matches.
His departure came despite the club triggering a one-year contract extension last summer.
The Dutchman's extension followed him leading the club to the FA Cup, having also won the Carabao Cup in his first full season in charge.
He had previously served as coach of Bayern Munich's second team between 2015 and 2017, when Pep Guardiola led the senior side.
