Latest news with #LosBlancos'
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Official: Real Madrid star receives Player of the Season award
Official: Real Madrid star receives Player of the Season award The winner of the Player of the Season award at La Liga giants Real Madrid was on Wednesday handed his prize. The player honoured with the accolade? Kylian Mbappé. Frontman Mbappé is for his part of course fresh off what ultimately proved to be a hugely productive debut campaign on the books of Real Madrid. Advertisement After initially struggling to adapt to his new surroundings, the Frenchman soon turned things around in spectacular fashion, to emerge as by some distnce Los Blancos' most consistent attacking threat. A final day brace against Real Sociedad last weekend took Mbappé's tally for 2024/25 to a whopping 43 goals. And as alluded to above, this week, such efforts on the part of the 26-year-old have been altogether aptly recognised by the club's supporters. As confirmed in a release across Real Madrid's social media platforms, Mbappé has scooped the award for Player of the Season at the Santiago Bernabéu. Conor Laird – GSFN
Daily Maverick
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Xabi Alonso takes biggest leap of fledgling coaching career with Real Madrid job
Legendary Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso will be under the most scrutiny of his budding career as a soccer coach after signing with Real Madrid. More than a decade since departing Real Madrid as a club legend, having marshalled the midfield magnificently, Xabi Alonso has returned to the Spanish capital. This time as Los Blancos' head coach. Alonso served as choir conductor extraordinaire in the Madrid midfield, now he will be pulling the strings from the sidelines for Los Blancos. The former Spain international has signed a three-year deal with the record European champions. He replaces Italian Carlo Ancelotti, who has taken over Brazil. It is unequivocally the hardest job of Alonso's fledgling coaching career and only his second major undertaking. However, he arrives in Madrid as the hero of Bayer Leverkusen following a magical three-season spell in Germany. 'I feel immense pride, responsibility, excitement and energy to come back to where I felt at home. I'm eager to start out on this new chapter,' Alonso said on his return to Madrid. 'I won't get giddy, the demands reflect brilliantly on all Carlo achieved. It's a challenge, but we want to do things that inspire and excite 'madridismo'. That's what my coaching staff and I are coming here to do. I'm sure we have the energy to give us the extra boost we need,' the 43-year-old added. Big shoes to fill As Alonso points out, filling the gargantuan shoes of Ancelotti will be a particularly tough task. The Italian won La Liga twice during his second spell with Los Blancos. He and his troops also conquered Europe on two occasions. Ironically, Ancelotti was the manager when Alonso and his Real teammates won the Champions League in 2014. Overall, it was a fruitful second stay for Ancelotti, who rejoined Madrid in 2021 (having worked there from 2013 to 2015). In spite of these achievements, the Italian mentor's final season was disastrous. They failed to win any major silverware and were also walloped four times in row by sworn foes Barcelona in this campaign. It was a season to forget for the 15-time European champions. The only highlight was the team's marquee signing, Kylian Mbappé, settling in relatively seamlessly to life at his dream club. Despite Madrid's general struggles in the 2024/25 campaign, Mbappé shone as he banged in the goals. The Frenchman ended the season as LaLiga's top scorer, with 31 goals to second-placed Robert Lewandowski's 27. The fact that he achieved this despite not being at his optimum and while playing in centrally (as opposed to occupying his favoured left wing) will undoubtedly excite Alonso. Building blocks What will be a less-exciting challenge is fostering synergy between the attacking players in particular. This season, there were times where Mbappé and Vinicius Jnr seemed to be in each other's way. Although there were also occasions where they were in sync. Alonso's task will be to ensure that the latter is the prevailing situation from next season. 'I like that question because football today demands that you can be flexible, dynamic and move pieces around. I have some ideas of how I'd like to play and I want the team to show emotion, energy and to connect with the crowd. That symbiosis will be crucial,' Alonso said about how he envisions his Madrid team playing. 'We have great players to work with and I want to get down to the day-to-day work so we can fulfil the potential of each one of them and start putting the pieces in place to build a team. 'It's incredible to have players of that quality, among many others as well. They're two guys who make the difference and we have to get the very best out of them both,' Alonso said about Mbappé and Vinicius. 'If they give it their all, this will be a winning team. I have some ideas and there is still some time before I get to speak to them, but I'll work on it. Things work better when there's good connection and communication. They're top-level players and that's my job,' he added. Different situation The situation Alonso arrives to at Madrid is vastly different from the one he walked into at Bundesliga side Leverkusen in October 2022. He found Leverkusen languishing in the relegation zone early in the season and turned their fortunes around, leading them to a sixth-place finish. The 2023/24 season was one for the record books as Alonso led Leverkusen to a maiden national league title. They did it unbeaten too, so Alonso etched himself forever into German soccer folklore. Now he can write a different chapter with Madrid, adding to the incredible reputation he forged as a hard-nosed midfielder. Alonso is a winner, bagging a number of trophies at club and country level. He has transferred this spirit of triumph to his managerial career. But his cool and calm demeanour will be tested more than ever before under the blinding lights of the Madrid dugout. DM
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 Luka Modrić confirms Real Madrid departure
Luka Modrić has confirmed he will leave Real Madrid at the end of this season. Modrić moved to the Santiago Bernabéu in 2012 and went on to claim 28 honours including six Champions Leagues and four LaLiga titles during that period. But after 590 appearances, the 39-year-old is preparing to bow out after Saturday's final game of Los Blancos' season against Real Sociedad. "The time has come," he wrote on Instagram. "The moment I never wanted to come, but that's football, and in life everything has a beginning and an end... On Saturday I will play my last match at the Santiago Bernabéu. "I arrived in 2012 with the hope of wearing the jersey of the best team in the world and the ambition to achieve great things, but I couldn't have imagined what came next. "Playing for Real Madrid changed my life as a football player and as a person. "I'm proud to have been part of one of the most successful eras of the best club in history. "I want to thank the club from the bottom of my heart, especially President Florentino Pérez, my teammates, coaches, and all the people who have helped me throughout this time. "Throughout these years, I've experienced incredible moments, comebacks that seemed impossible, finals, celebrations, and magical nights at the Bernabéu. "We won everything, and I was very happy. Very, very happy. "But beyond the titles and victories, I carry the affection of all Real Madrid fans in my heart. "I truly don't know how to explain the special connection I have with you all and how supported, respected, and loved I have felt and still feel. I will never forget every ovation and all the gestures of affection you have shown me. "I'm leaving with a full heart. Full of pride, gratitude, and indelible memories. And although, after the Club World Cup, I won't wear this shirt on the pitch again, I will always be a Real Madrid fan. "We will meet again. Real Madrid will always be my home. For life." Modrić will join head coach Carlo Ancelotti in saying his farewells to the Bernabéu. 📸 Alex Caparros - 2025 Getty Images
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
10th Real Madrid star ruled out of Mallorca clash
The injury woes facing La Liga giants Real Madrid at present have early this week taken yet another turn for the worse. This comes amid confirmation that a leading member of Los Blancos' attacking ranks is expected to miss the club's next outing. Real Madrid are primed to return to action this coming Wednesday night. A La Liga meeting with RCD Mallorca lies in wait, in gameweek 36 of the Spanish top-flight campaign. Carlo Ancelotti and his coaching staff will be unable to call on a whole host of the club's star performers for the fixture, owing to a combination of injury and suspension. In fact, already ruled out are all of Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Vinícius Jr. and Lucas Vázquez. And if the latest word stemming from the media is anything to go by, then also set to play no part against Mallorca is Rodrygo. After spending the entirety of this past weekend's defeat to Barcelona on the bench owing to a recent bout of illness, frontman Rodrygo, it is claimed, is now dealing with an unspecified 'physical problem'. .@fburgos4 "Rodrygo tiene un problema físico y no estará ante el Mallorca" — Radioestadio Noche (@RadioestadioN) May 12, 2025 Conor Laird – GSFN
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Real Madrid on top, Barcelona 3rd: World football's most valuable clubs named
Two of La Liga's leading clubs feature prominently in the top places of the clubs valued highest in world football at present. That's according to American outlet CNBC, who have this week provided a breakdown of the numbers. Advertisement Real Madrid, unsurprisingly, top the entire list, with Los Blancos' continued dominance on the continent having given rise to a current valuation of $6.7 billion. Next up, despite their long-standing woes as a club, come Premier League heavyweights Manchester United. The Red Devils are considered to be worth $6 billion on the current market. Rounding out the podium places are Real Madrid's arch rivals, Barcelona, who, amid a potentially historic campaign to date, come in at $5.5 billion according to CNBC. Looking further down the list, Premier League champions Liverpool take the no.4 spot ($5.4 billion), ahead of Manchester City in 5th ($5.2 billion). Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid, meanwhile, round out the Spanish representation in the top 25, sitting 12th, with a valuation of $2.1 billion. Stats via Marca. Conor Laird – GSFN
