Real Madrid have sensationally parted company with manager Xabi Alonso, bringing his troubled seven-month reign at the Bernabéu to an abrupt end.
The club confirmed the departure, which is effective immediately, in an official statement released on Monday. His former Liverpool and Spain teammate, Alvaro Arbeloa, has been promoted from the youth academy to take charge of the first team.
The End of a Turbulent Reign
Alonso, a legendary figure at the club from his playing days, took over from Carlo Ancelotti in the summer of 2025. However, his tenure was marked by significant difficulties.
A 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in November was a notable low point, followed by reported clashes with senior members of the squad. The final straw appears to have been Sunday's Spanish Super Cup final loss to arch-rivals Barcelona.
Despite a recent semi-final victory over Atlético Madrid in the same competition, the board has decided to act. The statement described the split as "by mutual agreement" and praised Alonso as "a Real Madrid legend" who will always have the club's affection.
McManaman's Theory on the Sudden Exit
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman offered an insight into the swift decision, suggesting Alonso's forthright nature played a key role.
Speaking on TNT Sports, McManaman said, "The only thing I would say is that Xabi doesn't take any nonsense off the people upstairs and he's quite happy to argue back. So I think in the end it's probably the best conclusion to what's been a messy affair."
He added that Alonso's strong reputation would ensure he finds new employment quickly, stating, "Xabi will get another job very quickly, I think he knows that. That's why he was in a position of power really."
Arbeloa Steps Up from the Academy
The man tasked with steadying the ship is Alvaro Arbeloa, another former Liverpool player who enjoyed a highly successful spell at Madrid between 2009 and 2016.
Arbeloa has been managing Real Madrid Castilla since June 2025 and has worked his way up through the club's youth system since 2020, winning multiple titles including a treble with the Juvenil A side.
As a player, he won eight major trophies with Los Blancos, including two Champions Leagues, and was a World Cup and double European Championship winner with Spain.
The appointment represents a significant vote of confidence in the club's internal structure and Arbeloa's coaching credentials, as Madrid seek stability after Alonso's brief and chaotic stint in the dugout.
