He’s back. Xabi Alonso is returning to Real Madrid to take over a club that failed to meet expectations this season. The Spanish powerhouse announced the hiring of Alonso on Sunday to replace Carlo Ancelotti,

Alonso will manage his first game for Real Madrid against Al Hilal on June 18. The Spaniard officially starts his three-year contract on June 1, giving him just over two weeks with his new team before their first match of this summer's FIFA Club World Cup.

Real Madrid have appointed their former midfielder Xabi Alonso as manager on a three-year deal. Alonso, who made 236 appearances for Real Madrid as a player, announced earlier this month that he would leave his role as Bayer Leverkusen boss at the end of the season.