Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso have parted ways after only seven months, with Alvaro Arbeloa replacing him.
The club announced the decision just one day after Real lost to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
Arbeloa, who has coached Real Madrid’s B team since June 2025 and spent the previous six years working with the academy, takes over immediately.
Alonso departs despite having the best win percentage of any Real Madrid head coach in the last decade at 71 percent. However, Real currently sit second in LaLiga, four points behind leaders Barcelona at the midway point of the season.
The club also occupies seventh place in the Champions League table, having won four of their six matches and lost the other two.
A Real Madrid statement announced the club had parted ways with Alonso, who also enjoyed a stellar playing career at the Bernabeu, via “mutual agreement.”
The statement 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 Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”
Real hired Alonso last summer as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement after he guided Bayer Leverkusen to an unexpected German league and cup double in 2024.
Liverpool had previously linked Alonso to their managerial position when Jurgen Klopp announced his departure from Anfield in 2024, but the Spaniard opted to stay at Leverkusen for another season before moving to Madrid.
Arbeloa brings a strong track record from within the Real Madrid system. The 42-year-old previously coached the club’s academy, particularly excelling with the Juvenil A side, the Under-19s squad.
In the 2022-23 season, Arbeloa guided the Juvenil team to a treble, winning their league, Copa del Rey tournament and the Champions Cup title. He added another league title with the team last season before his promotion to Castilla.
Arbeloa and Alonso share a unique connection as former teammates at Real Madrid, Liverpool and the Spain national team.