Xabi Alonso return to Real Madrid is now a reality. The coach from Tolosa was officially presented this Monday as the new manager of the first team in a ceremony held at the Valdebebas training complex. Alongside him were four members of his coaching staff, all trusted individuals. Among them, Argentine Sebastián Parrilla stands out as his assistant manager.

Alonso and Parrilla first met in 2018 in Real Madrid youth academy, when the former midfielder began his coaching career by leading the club’s Infantil A team. After just one season, Xabi packed his bags and moved to San Sebastián to manage Real Sociedad B, with Parrilla joining him and beginning a partnership that has continued to this day.

Born in La Plata on October 17, 1977, Parrilla arrived in Madrid as a teenager. He spent 17 seasons working in Real Madrid youth ranks before taking the leap to become Alonso’s assistant at Real Sociedad B and later at Bayer Leverkusen. Now he returns to Valdebebas, but this time with the first team.

From La Masia to Valdebebas

In addition to Parrilla, Alonso new coaching staff at Real Madrid will include Alberto Encinas, Beñat Labaien, and Ismael Cameforte-López.

Encinas worked with Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. The Catalan coach, born in Mataró, joined the German club in 2021 as part of Gerardo Seoane staff. With a background in Barcelona youth academy and a specialization in physical training, he became Alonso technical assistant in October 2022.

Labaien will serve as the team’s analyst. He reunites with Alonso after working with him at Real Sociedad. At 37 years old, the Basque coach brings experience from his time at Real Madrid academy (2011–2014), and has also worked at clubs such as Fuenlabrada, Elche, Leeds, and Zaragoza, in addition to his role as head of analysis under Imanol Alguacil at Real Sociedad.

The fourth member of the team is Ismael Cameforte-López, a physical trainer with international experience. After graduating from the University of Barcelona, he spent seven years at FC Barcelona and a year and a half in MLS with New York City FC. He has also worked with the Danish national team and joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2021, where he reconnected with Alonso. At the German club, he was responsible for training methodology, and will now succeed the legendary Antonio Pintus at Real Madrid.

A Project with a Personal Stamp

With this team by his side, Xabi Alonso faces one of the biggest challenges of his managerial career. After his successful spell in Germany, where he returned Bayer Leverkusen to the top of European football, the Basque coach now takes the helm at the Santiago Bernabéu with the mission of leading a new winning era. He does so surrounded by a staff that knows his working methods and football philosophy inside out.

The message from Valdebebas was clear: the Xabi Alonso era at Real Madrid has begun — and it begins with a team ready to compete at the highest level.