Bayer Leverkusen eye former Barcelona manager as Xabi Alonso nears Real Madrid move | OneFootball

FC Barcelona added another trophy to their cabinet as they beat Real Madrid to win the Copa del Rey 2025. The final between these two sides was quite a hard-fought affair, but the Blaugranes were ultimately able to get the better of their arch-rivals in extra time.

There is no doubt that this was a memorable win for the Blaugrana side, who are now keen to continue driving forward and enjoy success in the UEFA Champions League as well.

Changes expected at Real Madrid after defeat to Barcelona

Meanwhile, the defeated team is still reeling from its wounds, and there are significant changes expected to take place in the White team going forward.

One of the most notable of these changes could be the departure of the head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who is expected to be replaced by the current Bayer Leverkusen coach, Xabi Alonso.

Xavi Hernandez is a candidate to replace Xabi Alonso

In this context, SPORT reports that this activity can also impact a former Barcelona trainer, as Leverkusen have Xavi Hernandez as one of their candidates to replace Alonso on their bench.

The Bundesliga side wants to retain the identity of control and possession that Alonso has brought to their team, and for this purpose, they believe Xavi Hernandez is a particularly suitable candidate.

The former Blaugrana midfielder’s coaching philosophy revolves around the concept of Tiki Taka, in which keeping hold of the ball is a core ingredient.

Former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández among the potential candidates to replace Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Furthermore, Xavi’s good work as the manager of a club as big as Barcelona will also go in his favor, as he was able to win a Spanish Super Cup and a La Liga title despite the tumultuous times during which he had to lead the team.

However, Xavi Hernandez is not the only notable candidate on the German side’s list. Another notable name is the former Ajax and Manchester United tactician Eric Ten Hag, while Imanol Alguacil, who has announced that he will leave Real Sociedad at the end of this season, is also among the candidates for the Bundesliga champions.