Xabi Alonso has departed from his role as Real Madrid head coach after just seven months, with the club announcing his exit by mutual consent on Monday evening. The decision followed a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final the previous night. Former Real Madrid and Liverpool defender Álvaro Arbeloa, who had been coaching the club's B team Castilla, will replace him in the short term.
Alonso's tenure began promisingly with six consecutive La Liga wins and an impressive Clásico victory in October, but performances soon declined. A 4-0 Champions League semi-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain and a run of two wins in eight games saw a five-point lead over Barcelona turn into a four-point deficit. Despite brief improvements, the team's displays failed to convince, leading to his dismissal after 34 games, with six defeats including heavy losses to Barcelona, PSG, and Atlético Madrid.
The former midfielder arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu in May on a contract until 2028, replacing Carlo Ancelotti. He had been highly regarded after winning the Bundesliga, German Cup, and reaching the Europa League final with Bayer Leverkusen. However, his request for signings, including Martín Zubimendi who joined Arsenal, went unfulfilled, and tensions with players like Vinícius Júnior were poorly managed by the club.
Arbeloa, 42, came through Real Madrid's academy and made 238 appearances for the first team, winning eight trophies including two Champions Leagues. He also earned 56 caps for Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and European Championships in 2008 and 2012. Since retiring, he has coached in Madrid's youth setup since 2020 and took charge of Castilla last May.
