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Real Madrid have officially announced the departure of head coach Xabi Alonso, bringing his tenure at the club to an end less than a season after his appointment in the 2025 offseason.
Alonso’s exit follows Real Madrid’s 3–2 defeat to arch rivals FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final played in Saudi Arabia. The club has confirmed that former defender Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as his replacement.
In a statement, Real Madrid paid tribute to the departing coach, describing Alonso as a club legend whose legacy remains intact. “Xabi Alonso will always carry the affection and admiration of all Madridistas because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home,” the statement said.
Despite recording the best defensive statistics in La Liga, Real Madrid currently trail Barcelona by four points on the league table, having secured 14 wins, three draws, and two defeats so far this season.
Alonso took charge of the Spanish giants ahead of the 2025/2026 campaign, replacing Carlo Ancelotti after an impressive spell with Bayer Leverkusen. During his time in Germany, he guided the club to their first-ever Bundesliga title without a single defeat and also won the German Cup.
As a player, Alonso enjoyed significant success at Real Madrid, including winning the UEFA Champions League.
His successor, Alvaro Arbeloa, is a former Real Madrid teammate who has been part of the club’s coaching setup since 2020, working primarily with the youth teams. With the club’s Under-19 side, Arbeloa won the league twice, as well as the Spanish Cup and the Champions Cup.
Real Madrid will now look to Arbeloa’s familiarity with the club’s philosophy and youth system to stabilise the team and mount a stronger challenge in domestic and European competitions.
