Real Madrid has parted ways with head coach Xabi Alonso and promoted B-team manager Alvaro Arbeloa to lead the first team, the club confirmed on Monday. Alonso’s tenure lasted less than eight months, ending a day after a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
“By mutual agreement, Xabi Alonso’s time as first team coach has concluded,” the club said, adding that he “will always have the affection and admiration of all Madridistas,” and expressing thanks to his coaching staff.
Alonso had replaced Carlo Ancelotti last May, stepping into the role with high expectations. However, inconsistent results, reports of locker room tensions, and clashes with players, including Vinicius Junior, marked his stint. Following Sunday’s loss in Jeddah, a disagreement over performing a guard of honour for Barcelona further highlighted friction with key players, including Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe was the first to publicly acknowledge Alonso on Instagram, praising his leadership and ideas, and several other players also shared messages of gratitude, though Vinícius did not post a farewell.
During Alonso’s 34-match spell, Madrid won 24, drew four, and lost six. Despite a 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the season’s opening Clasico, Real Madrid currently trails the Blaugrana by four points at the halfway stage of La Liga. The team will face Albacete in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Wednesday.
Alvaro Arbeloa, 42, a former Madrid and Spain teammate of Alonso, enjoyed a highly decorated playing career, winning eight titles with Real Madrid, including two Champions League trophies, and Spain’s 2010 World Cup and two European Championships. He has managed the B team since June and previously coached the youth squads.
Alonso, 44, also had a distinguished playing career at Madrid, claiming six titles between 2009-2014, including the 2014 Champions League, and later guided Bayer Leverkusen to a Bundesliga and German Cup double.
Real Madrid hopes Arbeloa can bring stability to the team and guide them to success in domestic and European competitions.
