Xabi Alonso lasted only 232 days as Real Madrid manager. – The Spanish capital club has things in order in the organization and immediately announces a replacement.
Alonso lasted only 232 days as head coach of Real Madrid.
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Alonso joined Real Madrid, which he also represented as a player, on May 25, 2025 after a successful spell in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, but failed to make the positive impact expected of him, as Los Blancos are currently four points behind LaLiga leaders and arch-enemy Barcelona after 19 league games this season.
The 44-year-old’s departure has come less than a day after Real lost 3-2 to Barcelona in the Supercopa de España in Saudi Arabia.
Alonso led Real to 24 wins in his 34 games as manager, but was still booed by fans after the team’s 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo on December 7.
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Real Madrid confirmed the news via an official statement on Monday (January 12).
“Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first-team coach,” the statement read.
“Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.
“Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this time and wishes them the best of luck in this new phase of their lives.”
The club also confirmed that Álvaro Arbeloa will take over as the new head coach of the first team, after also representing the Spanish giants as a player.
The former Spanish full-back has been in charge of the club’s reserve team since June 2025 and trained in the youth academy for about five years previously.
The Spaniard, who also played in the Premier League with Liverpool, made 238 appearances for Real between 2009 and 2016, a period in which the team won two Champions Leagues, one Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, one LaLiga title, two Copa del Rey trophies and one Spanish Super Cup.
Arbeloa also won two European Championships – in 2008 and 2012 – as well as the World Cup in 2010 with Spain.
Real Madrid are in action again on Wednesday (January 14) when they face Albacete in the Copa del Rey last 16.
Real Madrid writes:
The following Saturday (January 17), they will host Levante at the Santiago Bernabéu in what will be Arbeloa’s first LaLiga game as a coach.
Real Madrid C.F. would like to announce that Álvaro Arbeloa will be the new first-team coach.
Álvaro Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025, and has spent his entire coaching career in Real Madrid’s youth academy since 2020. He coached U14 A in the 2020–2021 season, winning the league title, U16 in the 2021–2022 season, and U19 from 2022 to 2025. As coach of the U19s, he won treble in the 2022–2023 season (League, Copa del Rey and Champions Cup) and the league in the 2024–2025 season.
As a player, Álvaro Arbeloa was part of Real Madrid during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. He defended our shirt between 2009 and 2016, in 238 official matches. During that time, he won 8 trophies: 2 European Cups, 1 Club World Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 LaLiga title, 2 Copa del Rey trophies and 1 Spanish Super Cup.
With the Spanish national team, Álvaro Arbeloa was also part of a historic era, where he won the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and 2 European Championships (2008 and 2012). He played 56 international matches.
