Real Madrid Part Ways With Alonso After Seven Months, Arbeloa Steps In

Xabi Alonso has left his position as head coach of Real Madrid just seven months after officially reporting for duty at the club’s Valdebebas training complex.
The club confirmed his exit in a short statement released on Monday night, announcing that the separation was reached “by mutual consent.

” The decision followed Real Madrid’s 3–2 loss to Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup played the previous evening.
Alonso will be replaced, at least for now, by his former Real Madrid and Liverpool teammate, Álvaro Arbeloa. Arbeloa had been in charge of Castilla, the club’s B team, before his elevation.
Pressure had been mounting on Alonso over the past month. A Champions League defeat to Liverpool in early November marked the start of a difficult run that saw Madrid manage just two wins in eight matches. During that period, a five-point advantage over Barcelona at the top of the La Liga standings turned into a four-point deficit.
While results later picked up slightly, performances failed to convince. With the club unable to secure an alternative coach, it was widely expected that a final decision on Alonso’s future would come in Jeddah, where Madrid competed in the Super Cup. They advanced past Atlético Madrid in the semi-final despite being second best, but then fell short in the final against Barcelona.
Alonso was appointed in May on a contract running until 2028, replacing Carlo Ancelotti. He arrived with a reputation as a modern, tactically flexible manager after a highly successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga and German Cup and reached the Europa League final.
He had pushed for several reinforcements, including Martín Zubimendi, who eventually joined Arsenal. Alonso assumed control of the team in July ahead of the Club World Cup, despite preferring a longer pre-season before the domestic campaign.
Early matches in the competition hinted at his tactical ideas, but Madrid were later dismantled 4–0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals, and signs of sustained progress were limited thereafter.
The La Liga season began brightly, with six wins from six matches, and October brought an emphatic clásico victory over a Barcelona side depleted by injuries. Beyond that game, however, performances were often unconvincing. Tensions were also evident during that clásico when Vinícius Júnior was substituted and reacted angrily, heading straight down the tunnel.
Although Vinícius later issued an apology to teammates, staff and the club president, it notably excluded his coach. The club did little to strengthen Alonso’s authority, and while internal talks sought to ease tensions, only brief calm followed, including a moment when Vinícius embraced Alonso after being substituted in a 3–0 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Subsequent defeats to Celta Vigo and Manchester City again placed Alonso under scrutiny. Five successive wins offered only temporary relief, with Sunday’s loss ultimately ending his tenure.
Alonso leaves after 34 matches in charge, having suffered six defeats. Those losses included conceding three goals to Barcelona, four to PSG and five to Atlético Madrid.
In a statement, the club said:
“Real Madrid C.F. announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his tenure as first-team coach. Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always embodied the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.
“Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire coaching staff for their work and dedication during this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new chapter of their lives.”
Real Madrid’s announcement regarding Arbeloa did not specify the duration of his appointment. He took charge of Castilla last May and has worked within Madrid’s academy structure since 2020.
As a player, Arbeloa rose through Madrid’s ranks before leaving for Deportivo La Coruña. He later joined Liverpool and returned to Madrid in 2009, making 238 appearances and winning eight trophies, including two Champions League titles. He also earned 56 caps for Spain and was part of the squads that won the 2010 World Cup and the European Championships in 2008 and 2012.