January 13, 2026 | 01:23 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Real Madrid has officially dismissed Xabi Alonso as head coach following a 3–2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia on Monday, January 12, 2026. The decision was announced a day later in an official statement published on the club’s website.
“Real Madrid wishes to announce that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his time as first team coach to an end,” the statement said on Tuesday, January 13, as quoted by Antara.
The club paid tribute to Alonso, a former Madrid player and club icon, saying he would always hold a special place among supporters.
“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 added.
Alonso’s departure comes during a difficult period for the club. In addition to losing the Spanish Super Cup final, Madrid currently trails Barcelona by four points in the LaLiga standings.
Club management reportedly viewed the team’s recent performances as falling short of expectations, despite Alonso having taken charge only in June 2025.
Alonso was appointed head coach on June 1, 2025, following a highly successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen. He led the German side to a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in the 2023–24 season and guided them to the Europa League final, achievements that raised high expectations upon his arrival in Madrid. He signed a contract running until June 2028.
His tenure initially showed promise. Alonso led Madrid to the semifinals of the 2025 Club World Cup and recorded 13 wins in his first 14 matches in charge. The only defeat in that period was a 5–2 loss to Atletico Madrid in the September 2025 derby.
However, Madrid’s form declined in the following months. A 1–0 defeat to Liverpool on November 4, 2025, marked the start of a poor run, with the team managing just two wins from the next eight matches.
Although Alonso later oversaw a brief recovery with five consecutive victories, the club deemed the improvement insufficiently consistent to justify retaining him.
Reports also suggested Alonso faced internal challenges, including a loss of support from some players and tensions with key figures in the dressing room, among them Vinicius Junior. These issues are believed to have accelerated the decision to part ways after just eight months.
Real Madrid has appointed Alvaro Arbeloa as Alonso’s successor. The club confirmed his promotion on the same day as the dismissal. “Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed head coach of the first team,” the statement said.
Arbeloa previously managed Real Madrid Castilla, a role he assumed in June 2025, and has been part of the club’s academy system since 2020.
Like Alonso, he is a former Madrid player, having represented the club from 2009 to 2016 and won eight major trophies, including two Champions League titles and one LaLiga crown.
He was also part of Spain’s golden generation that won the 2010 World Cup and the European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
His appointment signals Madrid’s decision to turn to an internal figure amid a turbulent season. With the club trailing Barcelona in LaLiga and having missed out on the Spanish Super Cup, Madrid hope the coaching change can stabilize performances in the second half of the campaign.
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