Xabi Alonso leaves Real Madrid after just 7 months as head coach; Arbeloa takes over

Coach Xabi Alonso has left Actual Madrid by mutual settlement, a day after their 3-2 ​defeat by bitter rivals Barcelona within the Spanish Tremendous Cup, the LaLiga ‌membership mentioned on Monday.

“Xabi Alonso will at all times have the love and admiration ​of all Actual Madrid followers as a result of he’s a Actual Madrid legend and has represented the values of our membership always. Actual Madrid will at all times be his dwelling,” the membership mentioned in an announcement.

They added that second-team supervisor and former defender Alvaro Arbeloa will take over the primary workforce job.

Actual parted methods with Alonso just a little greater than seven months after appointing him, following a poor run of leads to all competitions.

Leverkusen magic lacking

Former Actual ​midfielder Alonso, who was handed a three-year contract in Could after a powerful ⁠stint with Bayer Leverkusen, noticed his tenure on the Santiago Bernabeu shortly unravel.

The previous Spain worldwide had guided Leverkusen to a historic unbeaten campaign to win the Bundesliga title within the 2023-24 season, together with a German ​Cup triumph and a Europa League last ⁠look, prompting Actual to convey him again to the membership as supervisor.

Nevertheless, Alonso’s return failed to duplicate the success of a fellow former Actual Madrid midfielder, Zinedine Zidane, who famously led the membership to 3 consecutive Champions League titles.

Clashes with senior gamers

His tenure was marred by ‌inner discord, with studies of clashes with senior gamers, together with co-captain Federico Valverde ‌and winger Vinicius Jr.

Actual’s poor performances underneath Alonso included humbling losses to Paris St Germain within the Membership World Cup, to Atletico Madrid in LaLiga, ‍and Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis within the Champions League.

Arbeloa will take over the job instantly and will probably be on the sidelines on Wednesday as Actual go to second-division facet Albacete in a ‍Copa del Rey spherical of 16 tie.

After main LaLiga earlier within the season with a snug five-point benefit over outdated rivals Barcelona, Alonso’s Actual collapsed and at the moment are second, 4 factors behind final yr’s champions Barca.

Alonso’s appointment was initially seen as a long-term mission, however his dismissal alerts the membership’s impatience with Actual falling wanting their excessive requirements.

The 44-year-old, who made 236 appearances for Los Blancos as a participant between 2009 and 2014, received a LaLiga title, two Copa del Rey trophies, and the membership’s long-awaited tenth European crown throughout his years in ⁠midfield.

Alonso additionally started his teaching profession at Actual’s academy, managing the Below-14 facet to league and event success within the 2018-19 season, earlier than progressing to Actual ​Sociedad’s reserve workforce after which Leverkusen.

Arbeloa steps in

His successor, Arbeloa, has been the coach of Actual Madrid Castilla ⁠since June 2025 and has spent his complete teaching profession within the membership’s youth academy since 2020.

Arbeloa performed for Actual throughout one of the profitable intervals within the membership’s historical past, between 2009 and 2016, taking part in 238 matches and successful eight titles, together with two Champions League trophies.

He was additionally within the Spain squad that received ⁠the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships, making 56 worldwide appearances.