Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid Part Ways

     Xabi Alonso’s time with Real Madrid has run out as both parties have mutually agreed to part ways. Alonso spent less than eight months (fewer than 35 games), winning zero trophies with a record of 24–4–6 with the club.

     It’s reported that Alonso talked with the head of the board and requested to leave the club soon after the Supercopa de España Final loss to Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Real Madrid directors agreed and decided that this was the end of the story for Xabi Alonso as manager of Real Madrid. Xabi Alonso and all his staff have now left the Spanish club.

     Xabi Alonso came to Madrid as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement after Ancelotti led Real Madrid to their first trophyless season since 2018/2019 in spite of winning multiple trophies in previous seasons. Alonso was considered one of the top-tier managers in Europe following his 2023/2024 season with Bayer Leverkusen, in which he coached the team to a 51-game unbeaten streak. In that same season, Bayer Leverkusen won the DFB–Pokal (German Cup), went undefeated and won the Bundesliga (German soccer league), and reached the final of the Europa League (2nd-tier European League), losing 3-0 to Atalanta in Dublin, Ireland.

At the Spanish Capital, though, Xabi Alonso lost big games to European giants like Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona, which is simply not up to the standards of the 15-time Champions League winners. There were also rumors that high-profile players were not getting along with Alonso within the locker room. Reports say that players weren’t cooperating and content with Alonso’s training sessions, tactics, and team lineups and formations. Senior Edwin Bonilla Martinez, a Real Madrid supporter, thinks that the split between Real Madrid and Alonso was “definitely not a mutual decision” and that “the players had a total lack of respect for their coach,” similar to what the media believes. 

     Following Alonso’s departure from Real Madrid, most of the first-team players expressed their gratitude and appreciation for him on social media. Kylian Mbappe was the first one to publicly send a message towards Alonso through an Instagram story in which he stated, “It’s been short, but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you. Thank you for giving me confidence since Day 1. I will remember you as a manager who had clear ideas and knew many things about football. Best of luck for your next chapter.”. Jude Bellingham also posted a story on Instagram expressing his thankfulness towards Alonso and wishing him “the very best for the future.”. Bellingham also followed that up by uploading a message onto his own app called JB5 claiming that many reporting networks from Spain were spreading “damaging information for clicks and added controversy.” about him and Alonso not getting along. 

The only high-profile player that is still yet to mention any word towards Alonso after leaving Madrid is Vinicius Jr., who publicly had issues and disputes with the manager, most notably in the match against Barcelona on October 26, 2025, in Madrid. After having a quality performance despite not having a goal or assist, Vinicius reacted in a furious manner when he got subbed off in the 72nd minute by Alonso, screaming angrily, “Always me! I’m leaving the team, it’s better if I leave, I’m leaving.” Vinicius later publicly apologized on social media to his teammates, the club, and the club president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, but he never mentioned Alonso

     Real Madrid has now called up Alvaro Arbeloa from his Castilla (Real Madrid youth team) coach position to the first team interim manager position. It is unknown how long Arbeloa will remain as head coach, but he made his managerial debut as the Real Madrid first team coach on Wednesday, 1/14, against Albacete in the Round of 32 in the Copa del Rey, which ended in more disappointment for Madrid fans.

Real Madrid lost 3-2 to Albacete, who are currently in 17th place in La Liga 2 (2nd-tier Spanish football), fighting in the relegation battle, while Real Madrid sit in 2nd place, 4 points behind league leaders Barcelona in La Liga (1st-tier Spanish football). Arbeloa commented in the post-game press conference how he isn’t “afraid of the word failure” even if people “call this defeat a failure.”He believes that “failure is on the path to success” but that the team has “a lot of room for improvement.” Six-time UCL winner with Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal acknowledged in the post-game press conference that Real Madrid “have hit rock bottom in spectacular fashion,” and that ultimately the players are responsible. Alavaro got his first win as manager of Real Madrid on his 43rd birthday in a La Liga game this past weekend, on Saturday, against 19th-placed Levante at home. Alavaro will manage his first UCL game on 1/20 against Kylian Mbappe’s old club, Monaco, at home.

  Just like many other legends for Real Madrid, Alonso will be loved and cared for by the Madridistas fans, but his time as manager is up. For now, Real Madrid and Alvaro Alberla will look to win Real Madrid’s first trophy since 2024 either in La Liga or in the Uefa Champions League. Currently, Real Madrid sit well in both competitions as they are in 2nd place in La Liga, 1 point behind first-place Barcolana and 7th place in the Uefa Champions League. Real Madrid and their superstar team will need to get their act together and prove once again why they are one of the most feared teams in Spain and all across Europe.