Xabi Alonso has left his role as Real Madrid head coach by mutual consent after just seven months, following a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. The former Liverpool and Madrid midfielder will be replaced in the short term by his former teammate Álvaro Arbeloa, who was coaching the club's B team, Castilla.
Alonso's tenure began promisingly with six straight La Liga wins and an impressive clásico victory in October. However, a run of two wins in eight games, including a Champions League defeat at Liverpool, turned a five-point lead over Barcelona into a four-point deficit. Despite some improved results, performances remained unconvincing, and the Super Cup final loss proved decisive.
The 42-year-old was appointed in May on a contract until 2028, replacing Carlo Ancelotti after his success at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga and German Cup. However, he struggled to replicate that form in Madrid, with defeats to Paris Saint-Germain (4-0), Atlético Madrid (5-0), and Barcelona (3-0) highlighting defensive frailties. Alonso departs after 34 games, losing six.
Tensions also surfaced with star player Vinícius Júnior, who stormed off after being substituted in a match and later apologised to everyone except his coach. The club did little to reinforce Alonso's authority, and despite a brief moment of calm after Vinícius embraced him in a later game, the relationship remained fragile.
Arbeloa, a former Madrid and Spain defender, took over Castilla in May and has been coaching in the club's academy since 2020. He made 238 appearances for Madrid, winning two Champions Leagues, and was part of Spain's World Cup and European Championship-winning squads.
