Who Has Managed Real Madrid Since 2000? Full Manager List With Trophies

Since Florentino Pérez became Real Madrid president in July 2000, the club has cycled through numerous managers ranging from world-class coaches to former club legends promoted from within. Álvaro Arbeloa is currently in charge, appointed on January 12, 2026, following Xabi Alonso’s departure after a Super Cup final loss to Barcelona. He was promoted from Real Madrid Castilla, where he had been coaching the B team. He is the latest manager tasked with maintaining the club’s winning standards at one of football’s most demanding jobs.

In this article, you’ll find a complete breakdown of every Real Madrid manager since 2000. We’re covering how long each one lasted, their win percentages, the trophies they won, and what ultimately led to their departure. You’ll also see which managers came back for second spells and who holds the record for the shortest and longest tenures.

Complete Manager List Since 2000

Since Florentino Pérez walked into the president’s office in July 2000, Real Madrid has brought in 20 different managers. They’ve got everything from big-name European coaches to former club heroes stepping up from the reserves. Some guys barely lasted a month, others stuck around for years; that’s just how intense football management gets at this level.

Vicente del Bosque was appointed as Real Madrid coach on a full-time basis in November 1999 after John Toshack’s dismissal. He continued in his role under the new president, Florentino Pérez, after the elections in the summer of 2000.  He grabbed two Champions League trophies and two La Liga titles, but got the boot in 2003 right after winning the league. That set the tone for what was coming, even managers who won silverware weren’t safe if the form dropped.

Manager Statistics Table

Latest Appointment: Álvaro Arbeloa

Álvaro Arbeloa took charge of Real Madrid on January 12, 2026, replacing Xabi Alonso after his tenure lasted just 232 days. The appointment came immediately after Real Madrid lost 3-2 to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, a result that prompted the club to part ways with Alonso by mutual agreement. Arbeloa was promoted from his role as Real Madrid Castilla coach, where he had been developing the club’s B team players.

Arbeloa spent six years as a Real Madrid player between 2009 and 2016, making 234 appearances and scoring six goals. He won the Champions League twice in 2014 and 2016, La Liga in 2012, and the Copa del Rey in 2011 and 2014. His international career with Spain brought success at Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup, and Euro 2012. Before returning to Real Madrid in 2009, he played for Deportivo La Coruña and Liverpool, then finished his career with a season at West Ham United in 2016-17.

His coaching philosophy draws heavily from his time under José Mourinho, who managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. Arbeloa has spoken about Mourinho’s influence on his tactical understanding and approach to discipline, favoring vertical play and demanding high standards from players. His appointment follows the pattern established by Zinedine Zidane and Santiago Solari, both of whom were promoted from the B team to the first team during periods when the club needed a manager who understood its culture from within.

Xabi Alonso’s departure came after his record showed 24 wins, four draws, and six losses in 34 matches, giving him a win percentage of 70.6 percent. The decision was influenced by factors beyond statistics, including reported friction in the dressing room and tactical disagreements with senior players. 

The defeat to Barcelona in the Super Cup final provided the immediate trigger, but the club’s form had dipped in December, and a November loss to Liverpool in the Champions League raised questions about the team’s direction. Just days before the final, Real Madrid defeated Atletico 2-1 to reach the El Clásico Super Cup final, showcasing the team’s capability before the eventual loss that led to the managerial change. Real Madrid sat four points behind Barcelona in La Liga at the time.

Managers Who Returned for Second Spells

Three managers have returned to Real Madrid for second tenures since 2000, each time delivering different results. 

Carlo Ancelotti stands out as the best comeback story, pulling in 11 trophies during his second run compared to just four the first time around. He came back in 2021 when the club was struggling after Zinedine Zidane left, then delivered two Champions League titles and two La Liga championships before heading off to coach Brazil in 2025.

Zinedine Zidane returned in March 2019 after Santiago Solari’s brief tenure collapsed following heavy defeats. His first spell from January 2016 to June 2018 brought nine trophies, including three consecutive Champions League titles, the only manager in history to achieve that feat. Zidane’s second stint went until June 2021, bringing two more trophies, including the 2020 La Liga title. But it wasn’t as spectacular as his first go. He had to deal with aging players and trying to fit in new signings, which made things tougher.

Fabio Capello returned for the 2006-07 season after his first spell in 1996-97, winning La Liga both times. His tactical approach emphasised defensive solidity and direct play, which brought results but failed to win over supporters or the media. Capello got fired both times after winning the league, which makes him the only Real Madrid manager to get sacked twice despite actually winning championships.

What this tells you is that Florentino Pérez wants managers who’ve already proven they can win and get what Real Madrid is all about. Both Ancelotti and Zidane got called back when things were falling apart, and the club desperately needed someone to steady the ship. Whether Arbeloa will eventually return for a second spell, following the path of Zidane, who was also promoted from the B team, remains to be seen.

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Most Successful Managers by Trophies

Ancelotti’s first spell gave him four trophies in two years, including the 2014 Champions League, while his second spell brought 11 trophies over four years. What made him different was how he got along with everyone; players loved him, the board trusted him, and he kept winning. That’s something most of his predecessors couldn’t pull off, even when they were bringing home trophies.

Zinedine Zidane grabbed 11 trophies across both his spells, with nine coming in his first run, including those legendary three straight Champions League wins from 2016 to 2018. No other manager in European football has matched that achievement. Vicente del Bosque won six trophies between 2000 and 2003, including two Champions League titles, though his dismissal just days after winning La Liga demonstrated that success alone did not guarantee job security under Pérez.  The importance of winning major finals against Barcelona cannot be understated, as evidenced when Barcelona beat Real Madrid in an epic extra-time Copa del Rey final, a result that can define managerial legacies.

Shortest Tenures and Quick Exits

José Antonio Camacho holds the record for the quickest exit – just 22 days on the job. He resigned in September 2004 after the team lost to Espanyol and drew with Bayer Leverkusen, choosing to leave rather than being forced out. Julen Lopetegui lasted 120 days after arriving under controversial circumstances, having been sacked by Spain on the eve of the 2018 World Cup. His tenure ended after a 5-1 defeat to Barcelona in October 2018.

Rafa Benítez survived 200 days before being dismissed in January 2016. His tenure included a 4-0 home defeat to Barcelona in November 2015, which undermined his position despite winning most other matches. Xabi Alonso lasted 232 days before that Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona ended his time there, proving once again that losing to Barca usually means you’re done.

Carlo Ancelotti’s second spell lasted 1,461 days, making it the longest stretch for any manager since 2000, a full four years from June 2021 to June 2025. What’s rare here is that he left on his own terms to take the Brazil job, not because he got fired.

Pérez’s Two Presidential Eras

During Florentino Pérez’s first run from 2000 to 2006, Real Madrid cycled through eight managers in just six years. This was the Galáctico era, with big names like Luís Figo, Zinedine Zidane, and David Beckham coming in. They won two Champions League titles, but things got messy, and Pérez resigned in February 2006 after catching too much heat. His second term, starting in 200,9 worked out way better with five Champions League titles, though managers still came and went like clockwork. Signing Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 was huge for this period, and every manager since he left in 2018 has had to figure out how to match what he brought to the team. 

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