Spanish giants Real Madrid and head coach Xabi Alonso have mutually agreed to part ways after just seven months in the role.
Alvaro Arbeloa, who has been the coach of Real Madrid’s B team since June 2025, and also spent the last six years working with the academy, has been named as Alonso’s replacement.
“Real Madrid C. F. 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,” stated the 15-time UEFA Champions League winners.
“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.
“We would like to thank Xabi Alonso and all his coaching staff for their hard work and dedication throughout this time and wish them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”
Alonso’s departure came just a day after the club’s 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
He had the best win percentage out of any Real Madrid head coach in the last decade, with a 71% win rate.
Meanwhile, the club has moved swiftly to fill the role with Arbeloa.
“Álvaro Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025 and has spent his entire coaching career in Real Madrid’s youth academy since 2020. He coached the Under-14s A in the 2020-2021 season, winning the league title, the Under-16s in the 2021-2022 season, and the Under-19s from 2022 to 2025. As coach of the Under-19s, he won the treble in the 2022-2023 season (League, Copa del Rey, and Champions Cup) and the League in the 2024-2025 season,” said the club.
“As a player, Álvaro Arbeloa was part of Real Madrid in one of the most successful periods of its history. He defended our shirt between 2009 and 2016, in 238 official matches. During that time, he won 8 trophies: 2 European Cups, 1 Club World Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 LaLiga title, 2 Copa del Rey trophies, and 1 Spanish Super Cup.
“With the Spanish national team, Álvaro Arbeloa was also part of a historic era, in which he won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and 2 European Championships (2008 and 2012). He was capped 56 times.”
