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AFP, MADRID
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Real Madrid on Monday said that coach Xabi Alonso has left the Spanish giants by mutual consent, to be replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa.
After losing the Spanish Supercopa against Barcelona on Sunday the club decided to part ways with the Basque coach, in charge for less than eight months, and immediately appointed former player Arbeloa, who was coaching the reserve side.
“Real Madrid announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his tenure as first-team coach to an end,” Los Blancos said in a statement.
Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso, right, gestures during their La Liga match against Real Betis Balompie at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid on Jan. 4.
Photo: AFP
In a separate statement Real Madrid then announced Arbeloa would take Alonso’s place, without specifying the length of the 42-year-old’s contract.
“Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025 and has developed his entire coaching career in Real Madrid’s academy since 2020,” the statement said.
Arbeloa’s first match at the helm is a Copa del Rey round-of-16 visit to face second-tier Albacete Balompie today.
The Spaniard played 238 times for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2016, winning two UEFA Champions League titles and La Liga once, among other silverware.
Arbeloa also lifted the FIFA World Cup with Spain in 2010, as well as the Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 titles, playing alongside Alonso for club and country.
Alonso joined in June last year, replacing veteran Carlo Ancelotti, but Madrid struggled to find consistency under the Basque coach and are second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona.
Los Blancos were outplayed in a 3-2 defeat in Saudi Arabia on Sunday by Hansi Flick’s side, the 44-year-old’s last match at the helm.
“It’s been short, but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you,” French superstar Kylian Mbappe wrote on Instagram. “I will remember you as a manager who had clear ideas, and knows many things about football. Best of luck for [your] next chapter.”
Alonso was close to the sack toward the end of last year, but a run of five consecutive wins kept him in his position until the Supercopa defeat.
Alonso had signed a three-season deal at the Bernabeu after leaving German side Bayer 04 Leverkusen, with whom he won the Bundesliga in 2023-2024.
Real Madrid were thrashed 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in July last year in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals, which was an early setback.
A 5-2 drubbing by Atletico Madrid in September last year was another blow for Alonso, although it was the team’s only league defeat until last month.
Despite a Clasico win over Barcelona in October last year, it appeared Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had not fully warmed to Alonso, who had intended to bring a modern coaching approach to the team.
While Ancelotti, who led Madrid to three UEFA Champions League wins across two spells in charge, was hailed for his man management, Alonso was appointed for his tactical nous.
Early on during his time in charge Alonso said the “rock ’n’ roll” was about to begin, but it never came, with few entertaining attacking displays, despite the superb output of Mbappe, La Liga’s top scorer.
Madrid struggled through a run of poor form amid an injury crisis, losing at home against RC Celta de Vigo and away at Liverpool in Europe, as well as drawing several domestic games.
In that period many of the tactical ideas Alonso had tried to implement, including high pressing, faded away amid reports some star players had fallen out with him.
Brazilian wingers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes dropped out of form, going several months without finding the net.
Spanish media also said Alonso would be ousted if they failed to beat Manchester City in the Champions League last month.
Madrid lost, but the performance was enough of an improvement that Alonso was given more time to try and save his job.
However, the defeat by Barca in Jeddah was the final straw.
