4 months ago
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Real Madrid pulled the trigger and replaced Xabi Alonso with B squad manager Álvaro Arbeloa.
Madrid said connected Monday (January 12, 2026) Alonso near by communal statement but it followed a tumultuous stint that lasted little than 8 months and came a time aft Madrid mislaid to Barcelona 3-2 successful the last of the Spanish Super Cup successful Saudi Arabia.
Alonso was instantly replaced by Arbeloa — they were teammates for Madrid, Liverpool and Spain and won the World Cup unneurotic successful 2010.
“Real Madrid wishes to denote that, by communal statement betwixt the nine and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his clip arsenic archetypal squad manager to an end,” a connection said.
“Xabi Alonso volition ever transportation the affection and admiration of each Madridistas due to the fact that helium is simply a Real Madrid fable and has ever represented the values of our club. Real Madrid volition ever beryllium his home.” The nine besides thanked Alonso's coaching staff.
Alonso arrived past May nether precocious expectations arsenic Carlo Ancelotti's replacement and unit built arsenic the squad struggled to play good nether his command. He had spats with players specified arsenic Vinícius Júnior and wide media reports said helium mislaid power of the locker room.
Vinícius, and others, complained much than erstwhile of being substituted by the manager during matches. Some players publically supported the manager precocious past twelvemonth but the concern didn't look to amended much.
After Sunday's nonaccomplishment successful Jeddah, Alonso appeared to privation his squad to bash a defender of grant for Barcelona during the awards ceremonial but Kylian Mbappé and different players called him backmost and walked away.
Mbappé was the archetypal subordinate to bid farewell to Alonso connected Monday. Mbappé praised and thanked Alonso successful an Instagram communicative that accompanied a photograph of him and the manager saluting each other.
“It's been abbreviated but it was a pleasance to play for you & larn from you,” the France prima wrote.
“Thank you for giving maine the assurance since Day 1. I volition retrieve you arsenic a manager who had wide ideas and knows galore things astir football. Best of luck for you(r) adjacent chapter.”
Other Madrid players besides posted messages thanking Alonso and wishing him luck. Vinícius was not among those publically bidding farewell to the coach.
Alonso did not instantly marque immoderate nationalist comments.
He was astatine Madrid's helm successful 34 matches crossed each competitions, winning 24, losing six and drafting four.
Madrid won the season's archetypal clasico successful October by 2-1 but inactive trails Barcelona by 4 points astatine the halfway constituent of La Liga. The team's adjacent lucifer is connected Wednesday astatine Albacete successful the Copa del Rey circular of 16.
As a player, Arbeloa helped Madrid triumph 8 titles from 2009-16, including 2 European Cups and 1 Spanish league. Arbeloa besides helped Spain triumph the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.
The 44-year-old Alonso was successful the aforesaid Spain team, arsenic good arsenic the Madrid squad that won the 2014 Champions League. He won six titles with Madrid from 2009-14.
The 42-year-old Arbeloa had been coaching the B squad since June. He besides coached younker teams astatine the club.
Alonso signed successful May to June 2028. He'd led Bayer Leverkusen to an unprecedented German league and cupful treble successful his archetypal afloat play aft taking implicit the squad erstwhile it was successful the Bundesliga relegation portion the play before.
