Real Madrid sacked head coach Xabi Alonso on Monday following their 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. The club announced that Álvaro Arbeloa will take over as the new head coach with immediate effect.
The decision came just one day after Madrid lost to Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Club president Florentino Pérez held meetings with the board on Sunday night and reached the conclusion to part ways with Alonso. Both sides agreed to end the contract by mutual consent.
Arbeloa was coaching Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s B team, before his promotion. He will lead the first team for the Copa del Rey match against Albacete on Wednesday. This will be his first game in charge of the senior squad.
Alonso’s Short Time at Madrid
Xabi Alonso joined Real Madrid in June 2025 on a three-year contract. He replaced Carlo Ancelotti and started well with 13 wins in his first 14 matches. The only early loss came against Atlético Madrid in a 5-2 home defeat.
His form dropped after losing to Liverpool in the Champions League on November 4. Madrid won just two of their next eight games before a brief recovery. The team went on a five-match winning streak, but losses against big teams continued to pile up.
Alonso managed 34 games in total. He won 24, drew four, and lost six. The defeats included heavy losses to Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 in the Club World Cup semifinals and a 2-0 home loss to Celta Vigo in December. Madrid fans expected better results from a coach who succeeded at Leverkusen, similar to how Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-tricks once lifted the club during difficult moments.
Madrid currently sits second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona. They also lost matches to Manchester City and Liverpool in the Champions League group stage. The club is seventh in the Champions League table.
Problems in the Dressing Room
Reports suggest Alonso had disagreements with some players. He reportedly argued with Kylian Mbappé over tactics and had a strained relationship with Vinícius Júnior. Players were unhappy with his substitution choices during matches.
Injuries to key attackers Vinícius and Rodrygo Goes added pressure on the coach. Jude Bellingham publicly backed Alonso before the sacking, but the support came too late. Mbappé posted on Instagram after the news, saying it was a pleasure to play under him.
The Super Cup final loss proved to be the breaking point. Barcelona beat Real Madrid in another recent high-stakes match, adding to the pressure on the coach.
Arbeloa Takes Charge
Álvaro Arbeloa is 42 years old and spent seven years as a player at Real Madrid from 2009 to 2016. He made 238 appearances for the club and won two Champions League titles. He also won the World Cup with Spain in 2010.
Arbeloa has been working in Madrid’s youth system since 2020. He took charge of Castilla in June 2025, the same month Alonso joined the senior team. He has no experience managing a top-level team before this appointment.
Real Madrid released a statement saying Alonso will always have the affection of all Madrid fans. The club thanked him for his work and wished him well for the future. Alonso previously won the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024.
What Comes Next
Arbeloa faces a tough start with the Copa del Rey round of 16 match on Wednesday. Madrid needs to close the four-point gap with Barcelona in La Liga. They also need better results in the Champions League to secure a top-eight finish.
The appointment shows Madrid prefers promoting from within rather than hiring an outside manager mid-season. Arbeloa knows the club culture and many of the younger players from his time with Castilla. Whether he can handle the pressure remains to be seen.
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