Club Legend’s Seven-Month Tenure Ends After Super Cup Loss to Barcelona; Youth Coach Promoted
Real Madrid have parted ways with manager Xabi Alonso after just seven months in charge, replacing him with youth team coach and former club defender Álvaro Arbeloa, the club announced on Monday.
The decision follows Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final and a turbulent period that saw Alonso fail to win any silverware despite a strong initial win rate of 70%.
“Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first team coach,” the club said in a statement. “Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans… Real Madrid will always be his home.”
Alonso, who was strongly linked with the Liverpool job last year before Arne Slot’s appointment, faced growing pressure after a series of damaging results, including a 5-2 loss to Atlético Madrid and a 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo in December. Reports also suggested tension with star forward Vinícius Júnior, though Alonso had denied dressing-room unrest.
His successor, Arbeloa, 42, moves up from his role as head coach of Real Madrid Castilla. A former right-back who won eight major trophies with the club as a player, Arbeloa has worked within Madrid’s academy since 2020 but has no senior management experience.
“We have to move on as soon as possible,” Alonso said after the Super Cup final, unaware it would be his last match in charge. “It’s the least important of the competitions we play. We have to look forward.”
Arbeloa’s first match will be Wednesday’s Copa del Rey tie against Albacete. He inherits a team four points behind Barcelona in La Liga and fighting for a Champions League knockout spot, with the pressure of delivering Madrid’s 16th European title now squarely on his shoulders.
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