Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid as head coach with immediate effect on January 12, 2026, after just over seven months in charge. The club announced the departure as a “mutual agreement” following their 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on January 11, 2026, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Real Madrid’s official statement emphasized gratitude and respect:
“Real Madrid C.F. announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his tenure as first-team coach. Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always embodied the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home. Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication throughout this period, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”
He was quickly replaced by Álvaro Arbeloa, a former Real Madrid defender (and teammate of Alonso’s from their playing days at Madrid, Liverpool, and Spain). Arbeloa had been coaching Real Madrid Castilla (the reserve/B team) since June 2025 and has a strong background in the club’s youth academy, including successes like a treble with the Juvenil A side.
Alonso arrived in summer 2025 with huge expectations after his unbeaten domestic double with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024. He signed a three-year deal replacing Carlo Ancelotti. However, results were inconsistent: the team won around 24 of 34 games (roughly 70% win rate), but struggled with form (e.g., a poor run including losses to Liverpool in the Champions League and domestic dips), tactical issues, injuries, and reported dressing-room tensions (including strained relations with players like Vinícius Júnior). Real Madrid sit second in La Liga (four points behind Barcelona) and are positioned for the Champions League knockout stages but faced growing criticism and fan impatience.
The Super Cup final loss proved the tipping point. Reports vary slightly—some describe it as Alonso requesting to leave amid frustrations, others as a club decision—but it’s framed officially as mutual. Reactions on X (formerly Twitter) include shock, memes, disappointment from fans, and quick promotion announcements.
This is a dramatic, short-lived chapter for a club legend as player (2009–2014, multiple titles including La Liga and Champions League). At Real Madrid, pressure for instant success is immense, and this exit underscores that—even for highly regarded coaches.
