Real Madrid has sacked manager Xabi Alonso after less than eight months, following a 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. He will be replaced by B team manager Álvaro Arbeloa, a former teammate. Alonso's tenure was marked by struggles, player spats, and reports of losing the locker room.
Real Madrid announced on Monday that Xabi Alonso has been replaced as first-team coach by B team manager Álvaro Arbeloa, a move that followed a tumultuous stint lasting less than eight months. The decision came a day after Madrid's 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. While the club stated Alonso left by mutual agreement, his tenure was plagued by the team's struggles, reported spats with key players like Vinícius Júnior, and widespread media reports suggesting he had lost control of the locker room. Players, including Vinícius, reportedly complained about being substituted. A notable incident after the Super Cup loss saw Alonso attempt a guard of honor for Barcelona, only to be called back by players like Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé, however, was among the first to publicly thank Alonso on social media, praising his clear ideas, while Vinícius was conspicuously absent from such farewells. Alonso, who arrived last May with high expectations after leading Bayer Leverkusen to a German league and cup double, managed 34 matches, securing 24 wins, 6 losses, and 4 draws. He leaves Madrid trailing Barcelona by four points in La Liga. His replacement, Arbeloa, a former teammate of Alonso and a Real Madrid legend, previously coached the club's youth and B teams. Both Alonso and Arbeloa were teammates for Madrid, Liverpool, and Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup together. Arbeloa helped Madrid win eight titles as a player from 2009-16, including two European Cups.
