Alonso Thanks Fans as His Short Real Madrid Reign Ends Suddenly

Xabi Alonso has issued a dignified farewell statement just hours after his dismissal as Real Madrid head coach, ending a tumultuous seven-month tenure that concluded with a 3-2 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.

The former club legend, who made 236 appearances for Los Blancos as a player, expressed his gratitude and pride despite a premature departure that reportedly left the entire first-team squad stunned.

In a message shared on Instagram, the 44-year-old Spaniard wrote: “This professional stage concludes, and it has not turned out as we would have liked. Coaching Real Madrid has been an honour and a responsibility. I thank the club, the players and above all the fans and Madrid fans for their trust and support. I leave with respect, gratitude, and pride that I did my best.”

The statement, which avoided any bitterness or blame, came after the club announced his exit “by mutual agreement,” a description that sources indicate followed an initiative from the board. His record in charge was statistically strong, with 24 wins from 34 matches across all competitions, yet defeats in high-profile clashes ultimately proved fatal.

The immediate catalyst for his dismissal was the painful loss to Barcelona in Jeddah, a result that convinced President Florentino Pérez to act. However, Alonso’s tenure had been under sustained pressure for months, marred by reports of internal discord and a perceived struggle to command the dressing room.

A pivotal moment reportedly occurred in October when star forward Vinícius Júnior reacted angrily to being substituted, an incident that sources say damaged Alonso’s standing with the board.

The dynamic reached a symbolic climax after the Super Cup final itself, when Kylian Mbappé publicly overruled Alonso’s reported instruction for the team to form a guard of honour for the victorious Barcelona players.

Despite the turbulence, Alonso’s exit on Monday evening caught the playing staff entirely off guard. Players learned of the decision only through the club’s official statement, with several privately expressing surprise as they had felt the project was back on track and that the coach retained the board’s backing.

This sentiment was echoed by Mbappé, who later posted a social media tribute, writing, “It’s been short but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you… I will remember you as a manager who had clear ideas and knows many things about football.”

Real Madrid has moved swiftly to appoint Álvaro Arbeloa, a former teammate of Alonso’s at both Liverpool and Real Madrid, who steps up from his role as the club’s reserve team coach. His first match in charge will be a Copa del Rey tie against Albacete on Wednesday.

The abrupt change has also prompted reaction from across the football world. Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, linked by some to the vacancy, distanced himself from the role, suggesting Alonso’s exit was “another sign that something isn’t quite right there at the moment.”

Analysts point out that Alonso becomes the tenth permanent manager dismissed by President Florentino Pérez without completing a full season in charge, highlighting the immense and impatient demands of the role. While his record at Bayer Leverkusen, where he delivered a historic unbeaten Bundesliga title, made him a coveted appointment, translating that success to the relentless pressure of the Bernabéu proved an insurmountable challenge in his brief time.

Alonso now departs with his reputation nuanced, a club legend whose homecoming as coach ended far sooner than anyone anticipated, leaving behind a squad and a fanbase to process an unexpected and abrupt farewell.