Bayer Leverkusen shared an emotional thank-you message on Sunday for manager Xabi Alonso, who led the club over the past three seasons and made history in the Bundesliga. The farewell came shortly after his move to Real Madrid was officially announced.

“¡Muchas gracias!” wrote the German club in Spanish on their official X account (formerly Twitter), adding heart emojis and the hashtag #SomosBayer. The message came in response to Madrid’s announcement and quickly went viral among fans.

Three unforgettable years in Germany

Xabi Alonso leaves behind a legacy at Leverkusen. In the 2023–2024 season, he pulled off a historic double, winning the Bundesliga —breaking Bayern Munich’s long-standing dominance— and also lifting the DFB-Pokal, in one of the club’s most successful seasons ever.

Ahead of the cup final —which Stuttgart won 4–2 over Arminia Bielefeld— the club shared an iconic photo of Alonso: smiling wide, holding a beer, sitting behind the wheel of the team bus with the trophy in his arms. “Good memories from great times,” read the caption, capturing the moment perfectly.

One chapter ends, another begins

Now heading to Real Madrid, where he once shined as a player, Xabi Alonso is ready to take the next big step in his coaching career. Before conquering Germany, he worked his way up through La Fábrica, Madrid’s academy, and later managed Real Sociedad B, building his coaching reputation step by step.

While Leverkusen didn’t challenge for the Bundesliga title in his final season —finishing second, 13 points behind champions Bayern— Alonso still managed to win the German Super Cup, wrapping up a remarkable three-year spell with three trophies and a warm send-off from the fans.