Actual Madrid’s head coach Xabi Alonso gestures in the course of the Spanish Tremendous Cup ultimate match towards FC Barcelona at King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on January 11, 2026
| Picture Credit score: AP
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 stated on Monday.
“Xabi Alonso will all the time 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 all the time be his residence,” the membership stated in an announcement.
They added that second-team supervisor and former defender Alvaro Arbeloa will take over the primary staff job.
Actual parted methods with Alonso slightly 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 Might after a powerful stint with Bayer Leverkusen, noticed his tenure on the Santiago Bernabeu rapidly 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 ultimate look, prompting Actual to convey him again to the membership as supervisor.
Nonetheless, Alonso’s return failed to copy 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 stories of clashes with senior gamers, together with co-captain Federico Valverde and winger Vinicius Jr.
Actual’s poor performances beneath 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 likely be on the sidelines on Wednesday as Actual go to second-division aspect Albacete in a Copa del Rey spherical of 16 tie.
After main LaLiga earlier within the season with a cushty five-point benefit over previous rivals Barcelona, Alonso’s Actual collapsed and are actually second, 4 factors behind final 12 months’s champions Barca.
Alonso’s appointment was initially seen as a long-term venture, however his dismissal indicators 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, gained 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 Underneath-14 aspect to league and event success within the 2018-19 season, earlier than progressing to Actual Sociedad’s reserve staff 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 vital profitable intervals within the membership’s historical past, between 2009 and 2016, enjoying 238 matches and profitable eight titles, together with two Champions League trophies.
He was additionally within the Spain squad that gained the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships, making 56 worldwide appearances.
Revealed – January 13, 2026 12:49 am IST
