Xabi Alonso Leaves Real Madrid After Eight Months

• Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid by “mutual consent” after eight months, with Alvaro Arbeloa appointed as his replacement.
• Real lost the Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona on Sunday and sit four points behind Barca in La Liga.
• Arbeloa, promoted from Real’s B team setup, takes charge immediately and will be on the touchline on Wednesday at Albacete in the Copa del Rey round of 16.

Xabi Alonso has left his role as Real Madrid manager after eight months in charge, with his former Liverpool teammate Alvaro Arbeloa named as his successor.

Real Madrid said Alonso, 44, had departed by “mutual consent” and announced Arbeloa’s appointment minutes later. Arbeloa has been promoted from coaching Real’s B team.

Alonso took over at the Bernabeu last May, replacing Carlo Ancelotti. He arrived from Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga in 2024, and returned to a club he represented as a player for five years.

On the pitch, Real were beaten by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday and trail their rivals by four points in La Liga. Alonso won 24 of his 34 matches in charge, though pressure had grown in recent weeks.

A defeat by Celta Vigo last month saw Real booed off, a result that prompted an emergency meeting involving the club’s senior figures to discuss Alonso’s position. Earlier in the season, Real lost 5-2 to city rivals Atletico in September and were beaten by both Liverpool and Manchester City in the Champions League.

In a club statement, Real said: “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 coaching staff for their work and dedication throughout this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”

Arbeloa, 42, has been coaching within the club structure since 2020 but has not managed a senior side before. He played two years for Liverpool before joining Real Madrid, winning two Champions League titles. Arbeloa also won the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and won the European Championship twice.

He takes charge immediately and will be in the dugout on Wednesday as Real visit second division side Albacete in a Copa del Rey round of 16 tie.

BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague said that there was ‘a clash between a coach with a clear methodology and players who want to rely on instinct.’