Real Madrid have parted ways with manager Xabi Alonso in a dramatic move that comes less than a day after the club's defeat in the Spanish Super Cup final. The decision, described as 'by mutual agreement', was confirmed by the club on Monday, ending Alonso's tenure after just seven months.
The Final Straw: A Costly El Clásico Defeat
The Spanish coach's position had come under increasing pressure in recent weeks, amid rumours of disagreements with his squad. However, the 3-2 loss to arch-rivals FC Barcelona in Sunday night's Supercopa de España final proved to be the final straw. Despite goals from Gonzalo García and Vinicius Jr., a brace from Raphinha and a fine finish from Robert Lewandowski sealed victory for Barça, even after Frenkie de Jong's late red card.
Alonso, a club legend who made 236 appearances for Los Blancos as a player, was seen sharing a brief embrace with president Florentino Pérez after the final whistle. Yet, the ruthless club hierarchy moved to dismiss the 44-year-old former Bayer Leverkusen boss hours later.
Arbeloa Steps Up from Castilla Role
In a swift appointment, Real Madrid have named Álvaro Arbeloa as Alonso's permanent successor. The 42-year-old, a former teammate of Alonso's at Liverpool and a World Cup winner with Spain, has been working within the club's youth setup since 2020 and took charge of the Castilla 'B' team last summer.
His first match in the dugout will be this Saturday against Levante at the Santiago Bernabéu. The club's official statement expressed gratitude to Alonso, stating: 'Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madridistas because he is a legend of Real Madrid and has represented the values of our club at all times. Real Madrid will always be his home.'
A Promising Start That Faded Quickly
Alonso's reign began brightly after his arrival from a triumphant spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he led the German side to their first-ever Bundesliga title in 2023-24. He oversaw 13 wins in his first 14 La Liga games, with the only early blemish being a tough derby defeat to Atlético Madrid.
However, a Champions League loss to Liverpool in early November marked a turning point. From there, the team's form collapsed, managing just two victories in eight matches across all competitions. This poor run intensified the scrutiny on Alonso and ultimately led to his departure, with the club now sitting four points behind Barcelona in the league table.
