Real Madrid have announced the departure of head coach Xabi Alonso by mutual consent, less than 24 hours after the club lost 3-2 to rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Santiago Bernabeu club confirmed the decision on Monday, ending speculation over the future of the 44-year-old former midfielder, who only joined Los Blancos last summer from Bayer Leverkusen.
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In a statement, Real Madrid said Alonso would “always have the affection and admiration” of the club and its supporters, describing him as a legend who represented the club’s values.
“By mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first team coach. Real Madrid thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication and wishes them the best in the next stage of their lives,” the statement read.
Alonso’s exit follows a sharp downturn in form after a promising start to the season. Madrid were top of La Liga in late October, five points clear of Barcelona, but a poor run saw them struggle in the Champions League and fall four points behind their rivals domestically.
Reports of dressing-room discontent and doubts over players fully embracing Alonso’s methods also dogged his tenure. In November, the Spaniard acknowledged the pressures of managing a club of Madrid’s stature.
“It’s demanding. You have to know how to live with these situations,” Alonso had said, referencing former Madrid coaches Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini.
Shortly after confirming Alonso’s departure, Real Madrid announced Alvaro Arbeloa as his replacement. Arbeloa, a former Madrid and Spain defender, has been promoted from the club’s B team, Castilla.
Arbeloa has coached within Real Madrid’s youth setup since 2020, winning several titles at youth level, including a treble with the Juvenil A side in the 2022/2023 season. As a player, he represented Madrid between 2009 and 2016, winning eight major trophies, and was part of Spain’s golden generation that claimed the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships.
Real Madrid said Arbeloa’s appointment reflects the club’s confidence in its academy system and continuity at the first-team level.