Real Madrid dismisses Xabi Alonso and chooses Arbeloa as his replacement

Madrid (EFE).- Real Madrid has decided to dispense with Xabi Alonso and has chosen Álvaro Arbeloa, coach of Real Madrid Castilla, to take the reins of the first team after the dismissal of Xabi Alonso, the day after falling in the final of the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona.

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The club has reported that “by mutual agreement” with the coach “it has been decided to end his time as coach of the first team”.

«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,» the statement says. Real Madrid expresses its gratitude to Xabi Alonso and his entire coaching staff for the seven months of work in his return to the club as a coach after succeeding as a player.

The club thanks Xabi Alonso for his work

«Our club thanks Xabi 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», the statement reads. Xabi Alonso took the reins of Real Madrid to lead the team in the Club World Cup last June, after concluding his time at Bayer Leverkusen. Chosen as the replacement for the Italian Carlo Ancelotti, the most decorated coach in the history of the white club, the coach debuted on June 18 with a draw against Al-Hilal. After four victories in the tournament, he fell in the semi-finals, defeated by PSG (4-0). In the current season, Xabi Alonso had Real Madrid in second place in LaLiga EA Sports, 4 points behind Barcelona, classified among the top eight in the ‘Champions League’ league phase and in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. He lost in the final of the Spanish Super Cup, after eliminating Atlético de Madrid in the semi-finals, in the clásico against Barcelona (3-2), a defeat that has triggered his dismissal. In total, Xabi Alonso has managed 34 matches as Real Madrid coach, of which he won 24, drew 4 and suffered 6 defeats.

Arbeloa, New Real Madrid Coach

“Real Madrid CF announces that Álvaro Arbeloa is the new coach of the first team,” announced the white club in a statement. Álvaro Arbeloa had been managing Castilla since June 2025, taking over from Raúl González, and his entire career as a coach has developed in the Real Madrid youth academy where he began in the 2020/21 season managing the Infantil A, in which he was proclaimed league champion.