Bayer Leverkusen have appointed former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso as their new head coach.
The former Real Sociedad B head coach has signed a contract until 2024 and will replace Gerardo Seoane, who was sacked after a poor start to the new Bundesliga season.
Seoane led Werkself to a third place in the Bundesliga last season and qualified for UEFA Champions League, but has lost five matches out of eight this season.
Alonso said: “I know Leverkusen as an excellent club from my time in Germany.
“Bayer Leverkusen has always had great players, I also see a lot of quality in the current squad. This task excites me a lot.”
On appointing Alonso as their new head coach, Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said “With Xabi Alonso, we have signed a coach who was an absolute world-class professional as a player, an intelligent strategist and extremely successful in no less than three of the most demanding European leagues.”
He added that sacking Seoane was not easy for the club, but “the best option in their current situation”.
Alonso’s first match in-charge will be on Saturday against Schalke in a home match.
