Real Madrid has made great changes! Alonso returns to the helm. Can he break the mistakes of the "Galaxy Battleship" in 2009?

On May 12, 2025, famous reporter Romano announced through social media that Alonso became the new head coach of Real Madrid and signed until 2028. The 43-year-old coach joined Real Madrid from Liverpool for 34.5 million euros in 2009, and won one Champions League, two La Liga and two Spanish Super League Cup championships with the team.

Now returning to the Bernabeu as a coach, he will become the first local young coach in Real Madrid's history to gradually advance from the youth training echelon (coaching U14 in 2018) to the first team head coach.

Repeated history: From players to coaches, Alonso's "closed-loop" redemption

The 43-year-old young coach joined Real Madrid from Liverpool for 34.5 million euros in 2009, and won one Champions League, two La Liga and two Spanish Super League championships with the team.

Now returning to the Bernabeu as a coach, he will become the first local young coach in Real Madrid's history to gradually advance from the youth training echelon (coaching U14 in 2018) to the first team head coach.

Key comparison:

Player period: 6 goals and 31 assists in 236 games, Champions League champion + La Liga champion

Coach period: Leverkusen won 3 championships in 3 years (Bundesliga champion + German Cup + Europa League runner-up), unbeaten rate 64%

250 million in summer window in 2009: The glory and regret of the second generation of Galaxy Battleships

For the creation of the "Galaxy Battle" "The second phase of the ship", Real Madrid threw 258 million euros in the summer window of 2009 to sign four superstars:

(1) Ronaldo (Manchester United): 94 million euros

Achievements: 4 Golden Ball Awards, 4 Champions Leagues, 450 games, 450 goals

Transfer End: 100 million euros to transfer to Juventus in 2018, Real Madrid made a net profit of 6 million euros

(2) Kaka (AC Milan): 65 million euros

Achievement: MVP in the 2012 Champions League final, but after playing for 3 years, he transferred to AC Milan for 65 million euros with 65 million euros (3) Benzema (Lyon): 35 million euros

Achievement: Second scorer in team history (354 goals), free transfer to Saudi Arabia in 2023 (4) Alonso (Liverpool): 34.5 million euros

Achievement: The main player of the Champions League champion, who left the team freely after helping Real Madrid win the championship in 2014

Controversial points:

Controversial points

The total investment exceeded 250 million but did not meet expectations. Only Ronaldo fulfilled all the value

Benzema and Kakaine's age/state declined and left the team early, and were ridiculed as "short-sighted investment"

Alonso's challenge: Real Madrid's three fatal injuries!

1. Lineup fault crisis

Default line: Rudiger (32 years old) + Vazquez (33 years old) temporary partner, lack of top central defender

Midfielder: Modric (39 years old) aging, Bellingham organized a core vacuum after leaving the team

Front line: Vinicius (24 years old) had serious dependence, Rodrigo (24 years old) was inefficient

2. Tactical solidification dilemma Ancelotti's 433 system was targeted by Barcelona, ​​and Alonso needs to inject new elements. Referring to Leverkusen's experience, he may try:

Three central defender system: Strengthen defensive stability

Quick counterattack: Use Vinicius + Rodrigo's wing breakout

3. Balance between business and competition. The total prize is 150 million euros after the reform of the Club World Cup. Real Madrid needs to win the championship to maintain global brand value, but the running-in time is only 6 weeks, and their opponents include Manchester City, Bayern and other giants.

Alonso's return is not only a tactical innovation, but also a symbol of Real Madrid's rebuilding confidence. If he could combine Leverkusen's philosophy of transmission and control with Real Madrid's superstar tradition, he might be able to end the century-old contradiction between "gold and yuan football" and "youth training hematopoiesis".

But the lessons learned from the 2009 summer window are vivid in my mind - the gathering of superstars ≠ championship guarantee, Alonso needs to prove that this time, he bought not only the players, but also the future. From players to coaches, Alonso's "closed loop" return is full of drama. The 250 million yuan purchase in 2009 has become a negative teaching material for football, and Real Madrid in 2025 is waiting for the young coach to write a new answer.