Why Real Madrid Sacked Xabi Alonso

Madrid — Real Madrid shocked the football world on Monday by parting ways with manager Xabi Alonso after just seven months in charge, following a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.

The dismissal marks another short-lived managerial tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Alonso becoming the tenth permanent manager under club president Florentino Pérez to be sacked without completing a full year in the role.

While the club announced the separation as a “mutual agreement,” the timing tells a different story.

Losing to Barcelona when a trophy is at stake remains the cardinal sin for any Real Madrid manager, and Sunday’s final defeat proved fatal for Alonso’s position despite recent improvements in form.

The 44-year-old Spanish tactician arrived at the Bernabéu in June 2025 with enormous expectations after his remarkable success at Bayer Leverkusen, where he led the German side to their first-ever Bundesliga title.

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He replaced Carlo Ancelotti, who departed to manage the Brazilian national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Alonso’s tenure began promisingly, with Madrid winning 13 of their first 14 matches. However, the cracks began to show during a difficult period from November to mid-December, when the team managed just two wins in eight games.

Reports emerged of dressing room unrest, with growing frustration over the lack of respect shown by players toward the manager, including public disputes with star forward Vinícius Júnior over substitutions.

Sources suggest Alonso felt he was not respected enough by the players, contributing to his decision to accept the separation.

His tactical approach, which had been so successful in Germany, reportedly failed to find the right balance at Madrid, particularly without a natural creative midfielder to implement his preferred style of play.

Despite the turbulent ending, Alonso leaves with respectable results: Madrid sits second in La Liga, just four points behind Barcelona, and are well-positioned in seventh place in the Champions League standings with four wins from six matches.

Alonso’s overall record was 24 wins, four draws, and six defeats across 34 games.

In their official statement, Real Madrid emphasized that “Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend” and wished him well in his future endeavors.

The club moved quickly to name a replacement, promoting Álvaro Arbeloa from the reserve team Castilla.

Arbeloa, a former Madrid and Spain defender who played alongside Alonso during the club’s glory years, has been working within the youth system since 2020.

He is expected to adopt a different approach, focusing more on man management rather than tactical innovation.

For Alonso, the failed Madrid stint is unlikely to damage his reputation significantly. Premier League clubs, including Liverpool where he enjoyed success as a player, are reportedly monitoring his situation closely as he becomes an attractive option for top clubs across Europe.