Xabi Alonso said he hopes to make Real Madrid an “unstoppable force” in his presentation as the club’s new coach, while thanking Carlo Ancelotti, saying he “wouldn’t be here” without his predecessor’s influence.

Alonso, 43, has signed a three-year contract at the club, taking charge from June 1, with his first challenge being leading the team at next month’s Club World Cup.

The club said goodbye to Ancelotti — who has already flown to Brazil to take charge of the national team — on Saturday after a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in their last game of the LaLiga season.

“We want to bring emotion and joy to the fans,” Alonso said, in a speech at Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground on Monday. “We want those who come to the stadium to enjoy themselves, and those watching on television to say ‘that’s my Real Madrid.’ If we manage to do that, we’ll be an unstoppable force.”

Alonso formally signed his new Madrid contract — which runs until June 30, 2028 — accompanied by president Florentino Pérez, before being officially introduced as coach, and taking questions from the media in his first news conference.

He was asked a number of questions about his tactical vision for the team, saying he “has ideas” for how to best combine Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, and revealing he wants Jude Bellingham to be “as efficient as possible,” stressing that he wants the England star to play as a midfielder.

“We’re lucky to have players of that level, not just Kylian and Vinícius,” Alonso said. “They’re two players who make the difference, and we have to get the best out of them. I have ideas and we’ll work on it … That’s my job now.”

“Today a new coach arrives, who’s already one of the best in the world, and knows what this Real Madrid shirt means,” Pérez said. “We all knew what your destiny would be, when you first sat on a bench in 2018, to coach the under 14s. Today you return to Real Madrid as first team coach, to face one of the biggest challenges of your life.”

Alonso made 236 appearances as a Real Madrid player between 2009 and 2014, winning six trophies, and later began his coaching career at the club’s academy.

He then took a job with boyhood club Real Sociedad’s B team, before taking over Bayer Leverkusen in 2022, converting them from relegation candidates into 2024 Bundesliga champions.

“It’s a very special day for me, a day that will stay with me for life,” Alonso said. “My link with Real Madrid has always been there. I feel like this is the beginning of something … I think the fans are excited to begin this new period, to do new things.

“Before talking about the new era, I want to talk about the one that has ended. Carlo [Ancelotti] was my coach, a great person, a big influence on me. Without his teaching, what I learnt from him, I probably wouldn’t be here. I take on his legacy with a lot of pride. I hope to live up to expectations and take this club to where we want it to be.

“We have a great team, we have fantastic players, we have a team that can have a great future. I come here with energy, excitement about getting the best out of them, and building a great team, believing we can achieve important things, worthy of Real Madrid, worthy of these European Cups.”

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Rafa Benítez offers words of advice to Xabi Alonso ahead of Madrid move

Former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager Rafa Benítez gives his thoughts on Xabi Alonso’s imminent move to Real Madrid.

Alonso had been Madrid’s long-term top target to succeed Ancelotti, and arrives after a season which has seen the club fail to win a major trophy for the first time since 2021.

After getting started next week, he will have little time to adjust, with the team heading to the United States for the Club World Cup ahead of their first game against Al Hilal in Miami, Florida on June 18.

Alonso called taking over before the tournament “an opportunity,” saying he wants his team to be “flexible” and “dynamic,” and admitting that he has already analysed Madrid’s games this season.

The rebuilding of the team ahead of 2025-26 has already begun. Madrid have signed centre-back Dean Huijsen and sources have told ESPN they are hoping to bring in right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold in time for the Club World Cup. They are also working on a deal for Benfica left-back Álvaro Carreras.

“It’s our responsibility to always improve, in every aspect of play, and of squad planning,” Alonso said, when asked if he had requested a midfield signing to replace the departing Luka Modrić. “I want to have that communication with the club, about how we can improve … But now it’s not about demands, it’s about being excited to work with the team.”

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick said he is “happy” to see Alonso take over at his team’s arch-rivals.

Asked about Alonso’s appointment, Flick said after Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Athletic Club on Sunday: “It was not a surprise, huh? I also spoke with him when he worked in Leverkusen. I spoke many times with him. I like him. I know his philosophy. It’s good to see his success in Germany on a really high level with a team, Leverkusen. Also the players improve a lot under his management. I like to see him here. I am happy to see him here.”

Information from ESPN’s Sam Marsden contributed to this report.