Xabi Alonso Leaves Real Madrid, New Coach Appointed

The rumors were circulating even before the final whistle. After Real Madrid's 2-1 loss to Manchester City, there were strong speculations about Xabi Alonso’s future with the club. His fate seemed sealed after the Spanish Super Cup final loss to Barcelona on January 11, 2026, with Real Madrid falling 3-2. Following this, Alonso decided to leave the club.

Real Madrid confirmed on Monday (January 12) that Alonso's departure was mutual. In a statement, the club expressed that Alonso would always be remembered fondly by the Madridistas and praised him for embodying the values of the club. “Xabi Alonso will always have the love and admiration of Real Madrid fans, as he is a legend and has always represented the club's values. Real Madrid will always be his home,” the statement read.

The latest defeat, alongside rumors of a strained relationship between Alonso and Vinícius Júnior, signaled the end of Alonso’s tenure at Madrid. Several media outlets had reported growing tensions with players, particularly regarding team dynamics.
 

Alonso’s exit also saw the announcement of his replacement, Álvaro Arbeloa, the former Real Madrid academy coach, as the new head coach. Alonso had joined Real Madrid as coach in June 2025 after a successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won a domestic double and led the team to the Europa League final in 2023-24.

Despite an excellent start, where Real Madrid won 13 of 14 matches under his leadership, Alonso’s tenure saw a dramatic dip in form. After a 4-0 loss to Atlético Madrid and subsequent poor performances, the final nail in the coffin came after losses to Liverpool and Barcelona.

Thus, the Xabi Alonso chapter at Real Madrid comes to an end with the club hoping for a fresh start under Arbeloa.