Xabi Alonso has left his role as Real Madrid head coach after just seven months, with the club confirming his departure by mutual consent on Monday evening. The announcement came less than 24 hours after Madrid's 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah.
Former teammate Álvaro Arbeloa will replace him on an interim basis. Arbeloa, who coached Madrid's B team Castilla, has been part of the club's coaching setup since 2020. He previously played for Madrid, Liverpool, and Deportivo La Coruña, winning two Champions League titles and eight trophies with the Spanish side.
Alonso's position had come under increasing pressure following a run of two wins in eight matches, which saw Madrid surrender a five-point lead over Barcelona in La Liga and fall four points behind. A 4-0 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and a 5-0 loss to Atlético Madrid further eroded confidence in his methods.
The former midfielder arrived in May on a contract to 2028 after successful spells at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga and German Cup. However, his tenure was marked by inconsistent performances, despite an early season run of six straight league wins and an impressive Clásico victory in October.
Internal tensions also surfaced, notably when Vinícius Júnior stormed down the tunnel after being substituted in one match. Although an apology followed, it was directed at players, staff, and the president—but not at Alonso. The coach departs after 34 games, with six defeats, leaving Madrid fifth in La Liga and facing an uncertain season.
