In a dramatic turn of events, Spanish football giants Real Madrid have parted ways with head coach Xabi Alonso. The decision, announced on Monday, 12 January 2026, comes just a day after the team's painful 3-2 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
End of the Alonso Era at the Bernabeu
The club confirmed the departure was by mutual consent, ending the Basque coach's tenure after just eight months. Alonso, who joined in June 2025 from German champions Bayer Leverkusen, signed a three-season deal to replace the legendary Carlo Ancelotti.
However, his time at the helm was marked by inconsistency. Despite a Clasico victory over Barcelona in October, Madrid struggled to find a rhythm under his leadership. The team currently sits second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona.
Alonso's reign saw significant setbacks, including a 4-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals last July and a heavy 5-2 league defeat to Atletico Madrid in September. A recent injury crisis led to a poor run of form, with losses to Celta Vigo and Liverpool, casting serious doubt on his future.
Arbeloa Steps Up from the Academy
Real Madrid moved swiftly to name Alonso's successor, appointing former player Alvaro Arbeloa as the new first-team coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard was promoted from his role as coach of the reserve team, Castilla, a position he had held since June 2025.
Arbeloa is a familiar face at the Santiago Bernabeu. As a player, he made 238 appearances for Los Blancos between 2009 and 2016, winning the Champions League twice and La Liga once. He also enjoyed immense international success, lifting the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the European Championships in 2008 and 2012 with Spain, often playing alongside Xabi Alonso.
His first match in charge will be a crucial Copa del Rey last-16 tie away at second-tier Albacete on Wednesday. The club's statement did not specify the length of his new contract.
A Tactical Project That Never Took Off
Xabi Alonso was brought in for his modern tactical ideas, a shift from Ancelotti's famed man-management style. Early in his tenure, he promised the "rock'n'roll" was about to begin, but that exciting, attacking football largely failed to materialize.
Even the superb goal-scoring form of French superstar Kylian Mbappe could not mask the team's overall struggles. Reports suggested some star players had fallen out with Alonso, and his attempted high-pressing system faded as results worsened. Brazilian wingers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes suffered notable dips in form.
Alonso was reportedly close to being sacked at the end of 2025, but a run of five consecutive wins bought him more time. A December loss to Manchester City in the Champions League put him back on the brink, but an improved performance allowed him to stay. Ultimately, the Super Cup defeat in Jeddah proved to be the final straw for the Madrid hierarchy, led by president Florentino Perez.
The club and coach have now agreed on his exit, turning the page on a brief and turbulent chapter as they hand the reins to a club legend in Alvaro Arbeloa.
