Real Madrid confirmed on Monday that Xabi Alonso has left his position as head coach after just over seven months in charge, with former teammate and B-team manager Álvaro Arbeloa named as his immediate replacement.
The decision, described by the club as “by mutual agreement,” follows a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia and leaves Madrid four points behind their rivals in La Liga.
Alonso’s departure marks a swift and stark conclusion to a tenure that began with high expectations last June. The 44-year-old, who arrived after a trophy-laden spell at Bayer Leverkusen, initially impressed, winning 13 of his first 14 games.
However, a downturn in form, including just two wins in an eight-match stretch, and reported friction within the squad eroded his position. Club president Florentino Pérez and the board had publicly backed Alonso as recently as last week, but the Super Cup loss proved the final catalyst.
In a statement, Real Madrid acknowledged Alonso’s legacy, saying, “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”. The club thanked him and his staff for their “work and dedication”.
Behind the diplomatic language, however, lay months of strain. Spanish media reported repeated clashes between Alonso and key players, notably Vinícius Júnior, who openly bristled at being substituted. Alonso himself acknowledged the unique pressures of the role, reflecting, “It’s demanding. I’m not the first coach that has to deal with these kinds of situations”.
In his final days, he insisted the squad remained united, stating, “We are all on the same boat”, but the atmosphere behind the scenes told a different story.
The announcement caught many off guard. Journalist Edu Aguirre of El Chiringuito revealed that “neither Xabi Alonso nor his players saw this dramatic turn of events coming,” adding that the dressing room was “absolutely stunned”. Alonso’s exit was reportedly driven by his belief that he had lost the respect of the squad, prompting him to initiate the split.
Stepping into the breach is 42-year-old Álvaro Arbeloa, a former Madrid defender who has been coaching in the club’s youth system since 2020 and led the B team since June.
Arbeloa, who won eight trophies as a Madrid player and lifted the World Cup alongside Alonso with Spain in 2010, now faces the daunting task of steadying the first team amid a packed schedule of Copa del Rey, Champions League, and La Liga fixtures.
The abrupt change leaves Madrid at a crossroads. For Alonso, a club legend whose coaching star once burned brightly, the future is uncertain. For Arbeloa, the pressure is immediate: to reunite a fractured locker room and revive a season that began with title aspirations but now hangs in the balance. As one era ends abruptly, another begins under the shadow of urgency.