Alonso leaves Real Madrid, Arbeloa appointed coach

Real Madrid announced on Monday that manager Xabi Alonso has left the Spanish giants by mutual consent, to be replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa.

After losing the Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona on Sunday, the club decided to part ways with coach Vasco, who had been in charge for less than eight months, and immediately appointed former Madrid player Arbeloa to coach the reserves.

“Real Madrid announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his tenure as first team coach,” Los Blancos said in a statement.

In a separate statement, Madrid then announced that Arbeloa would take Alonso’s place, without specifying the length of the 42-year-old’s contract.

“Arbeloa has been Castilla’s coach since June 2025 and has developed his entire coaching career in Real Madrid’s academy since 2020,” Los Blancos said.

Arbeloa’s first game in charge is a Copa del Rey last 16 visit to face second division side Albacete on Wednesday.

The Spaniard played 238 times for Madrid between 2009-2016, winning two Champions League titles and one La Liga, among other silverware.

Arbeloa also lifted the World Cup with Spain in 2010, as well as the European Championships in 2008 and 2012, playing alongside Alonso for club and country.

Alonso joined in June, replacing veteran Carlo Ancelotti, but Madrid have struggled to find consistency under coach Vasco and are second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona.

Los Blancos were handed a 3-2 defeat in Saudi Arabia on Sunday by Hansi Flick’s side, the 44-year-old’s last in charge.

“It was 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 coach who had clear ideas and knows a lot about football. Good luck for (your) next chapter.”

Not “rock and roll”

Alonso was close to being sacked towards the end of 2025, but a run of five consecutive wins kept him in his place until the Super Cup defeat.

Alonso had signed a three-season deal at the Bernabeu after leaving German side Bayer Leverkusen, with whom he won the Bundesliga in 2024.

Real Madrid were beaten 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in July in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, an early setback for the manager.

A 5-2 drubbing by Atletico Madrid in September was another blow for Alonso, although it was the team’s only league defeat until December.

Despite the Clasico victory over Barcelona in October, it appeared that president Florentino Perez was not fully enamored with Alonso, who was set to bring a modern coaching approach to the team.

While Ancelotti, who led Madrid to three Champions League wins in two spells in charge, was hailed for his manly management, Alonso was singled out for his tactical mindset.

Early on in his tenure, Alonso said the “rock’n’roll” was about to begin, but it never came, with few entertaining attacks despite a superb performance from La Liga’s top scorer Mbappe.

Madrid have struggled in a poor run of form amid an injury crisis, losing at home to Celta Vigo and away to Liverpool in Europe, as well as drawing several domestic games.

During that time, many of the tactical ideas that Alonso had tried to implement, including high pressing, faded, amid reports that some players had fallen out with him.

Brazilian wingers Vinicius Junior and Rodrigo Goes have fallen out of form, going several months without finding the net.

Spanish media also reported that Alonso will be sacked if he fails to beat Manchester City in the Champions League in December.

Madrid lost to Pep Guardiola’s side, but the performance was enough of an improvement that Alonso was given more time to try and save his job.

However, the defeat to Barca in Jeddah was the final straw for Madrid, who agreed with Alonso to leave.