In a dramatic turn of events, Spanish football giants Real Madrid have terminated the contract of their manager, Xabi Alonso. This decisive action comes hot on the heels of a painful 3-2 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday evening.
The End of a Short-Lived Era
The club made the official announcement on its social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), on Monday. The statement described the departure as a mutual agreement between the club and the Spanish coach. Xabi Alonso, a legendary former player for the club, was appointed just last summer, arriving with a stellar reputation after a highly successful period managing German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
Despite a seemingly strong record of 24 wins from 34 games in charge, with only six losses, pressure had been mounting on Alonso. The final straw appears to have been the Super Cup loss, coupled with the team's position in La Liga, where they currently trail Barcelona by four points.
A Legend's Legacy and Swift Succession
In their announcement, Real Madrid were quick to honour Alonso's status at the club. The statement affirmed he would "always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans" and that Real Madrid will always be his home. His tenure, however, has been cut remarkably short.
The club moved swiftly to name his successor, confirming that former defender Álvaro Arbeloa has taken over as first-team coach with immediate effect. Arbeloa, like Alonso, also had a playing stint at Liverpool before joining Real Madrid.
Who is Álvaro Arbeloa?
Álvaro Arbeloa is not a newcomer to the Real Madrid setup. Since 2020, his entire coaching career has been within the club's youth academy. His progression has been steady and impressive:
- He managed the Infantil A team to a league title in the 2020-2021 season.
- He took charge of the Cadete A team in 2021-2022.
- He led the Juvenil A team from 2022 to 2025, achieving a remarkable treble (League, Copa del Rey, and Champions Cup) in the 2022-2023 season and another league title in 2024-2025.
- Most recently, he has been the manager of Castilla, Real Madrid's reserve team, since June 2025.
As a player, Arbeloa was part of one of the most successful eras in the club's history. Between 2009 and 2016, he made 238 official appearances, winning eight major titles including two UEFA Champions League trophies and one La Liga title.
His international pedigree is equally formidable, having been part of the legendary Spanish national team that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and two European Championships (2008 and 2012), earning 56 caps for his country.
The sudden change marks a significant moment for Real Madrid. The club has opted for a known internal figure with a deep understanding of the 'Madridista' culture over a more experienced external name, betting on Arbeloa to steady the ship after a high-profile departure.
