Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid by mutual consent after seven months, with former defender Alvaro Arbeloa promoted to first team coach.
Xabi Alonso has left his role as Real Madrid manager after less than eight months in charge. The club confirmed the decision was taken by mutual consent on Monday. Minutes later, Real announced Alvaro Arbeloa as his replacement. The former full back has been promoted from the club’s Castilla side.
Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti last summer after winning the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen. Expectations were high given his status as a club legend. However, pressure had mounted in recent weeks. Sunday’s defeat to Barcelona proved decisive.
Real Madrid were beaten 3-2 by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The match was tightly contested and decided late on. Despite a spirited display, Real were unable to lift the trophy. That result left Alonso under intense scrutiny.
Real now trail Barcelona by four points in La Liga at the halfway stage. They also sit seventh in the Champions League league phase. Sources suggest disagreements over tactics had grown. Tensions with senior figures accelerated the outcome.
Alonso leaves with a respectable record on paper. He won 24 of his 34 matches in charge. Real also reached the Club World Cup semifinals earlier this season. Yet performances often failed to convince sections of the support.
Defeats to Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester City damaged confidence. A home loss to Celta Vigo last month saw the team booed off. Emergency meetings followed that result. Alonso’s authority never fully settled inside the dressing room.
Alvaro Arbeloa takes charge of the first team with immediate effect. The 42-year-old has coached within the Real Madrid academy since 2020. He was appointed Castilla boss in June 2025. This will be his first senior managerial role.
As a player, Arbeloa won two Champions League titles with Real. He was also part of Spain’s World Cup and European Championship triumphs. His close ties to the club were key to the appointment. Real have once again opted for continuity over an external hire.
Sunday’s final featured moments that symbolised Alonso’s struggles. Images showed Kylian Mbappe gesturing teammates away from a guard of honour. Alonso appeared unable to overrule his star player. That scene drew heavy attention in Spain.
Reports also pointed to strained relationships with Vinicius Junior earlier in the season. Although publicly downplayed, selection decisions caused friction. Alonso insisted issues were resolved. Internally, doubts remained about long term harmony.
Real have won four of their six Champions League matches this season. They remain inside the top eight and on course for the knockout rounds. In La Liga, they average over two goals per game. Defensive injuries, however, disrupted consistency.
The squad has been stretched across competitions. Real are still alive in the Copa del Rey. They face a demanding schedule across January. Arbeloa inherits a team still competing on multiple fronts.
Arbeloa’s first match will be on Wednesday. Real travel to Albacete in the Copa del Rey last 16. League fixtures against Levante and Villarreal and Champions League ties against AS Monaco and Benfica follow in quick succession in January. There is little time for adjustment.
The new coach must stabilise results immediately. Real Madrid’s standards allow no margin for transition. Alonso departs with mixed reviews. Arbeloa now faces one of football’s toughest jobs.
