Bayer 04 Leverkusen Uefa Champions League Xabi Alonso Fernando Carro

Bayer Leverkusen part ways with sporting director Fernando Carro

Xabi Alonso to take over as new sporting director at Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer 04 Leverkusen has announced that they have parted ways with sporting director Fernando Carro. Former player Xabi Alonso will take over the role, the club confirmed on Tuesday.

Carro had been in charge of Leverkusen's sporting operations since 2018. During his time at the club, he oversaw some of the club's most successful seasons in recent years, including a third-place finish in the Bundesliga in 2019 and a second-place finish in the DFB-Pokal in 2020.

However, Leverkusen has struggled for consistency in recent seasons, and they currently sit 16th in the Bundesliga table. The club's poor form led to speculation that Carro could be replaced, and that speculation was confirmed on Tuesday.

Xabi Alonso has been appointed as Carro's successor. Alonso is a former Spanish international who played for Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool during his playing career. He retired from playing in 2017 and has since worked as a coach, most recently with Real Madrid's youth team.

Alonso is a highly respected figure in the football world, and his appointment is seen as a coup for Leverkusen. He will be tasked with improving the club's fortunes on the pitch, and he will be hoping to guide them back into the top half of the Bundesliga table.