What began as great hope and a "new era" at the Santiago Bernabeu ended abruptly and painfully. Real Madrid officially confirmed this afternoon that Xabi Alonso is no longer the first team coachThe decision comes as a direct consequence of the defeat to Barcelona (3-2) in the final of the Spanish Super Cup, which was the final straw for the management.
"Amicable" parting with the legend
Although the club stated in the official statement that the separation was by "mutual agreement", it is clear that the pressure of poor results in the last two months and a restless dressing room have taken their toll.
"Xabi Alonso will always enjoy the affection and admiration of all Madridistas because he is a legend of the club and has always represented our values. Real Madrid will always be his home," reads the emotional but professional farewell from the club.
Xabi's short and turbulent stay
Alonso took over in June 2025 as Carlo Ancelotti's successor, but his tenure lasted just seven months. Although he brought a modern style and won 24 of 34 games, five defeats to Barcelona in the last six head-to-head matches were too much for Florentino Perez. Injuries to key players and disagreements with stars like Vinicius have further complicated his mission.
Who is next?
After the express dismissal of Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid confirmed that his successor is another club legend - Alvaro ArbeloaThe current coach of the second team (Castilla) immediately takes over the responsibilities of the first team, hoping that his winning mentality will save the rest of the season or at least until a new permanent coach for the first team is found.
Master of trophies in youth categories
Arbeloa comes to this position with a strong recommendation from his work with the youth categories. As coach of the "Juvenil A" team, he won the 2022/2023 season the historic triple crown (the championship, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League), and last season brought the league title again. His work in the third Spanish league with Castilla showed that he is ready for the highest step.
