Xabi Alonso Parts Ways with Real Madrid as Head Coach

Real Madrid officially announced on Monday that Xabi Alonso will no longer serve as the head coach of the club, effective immediately, following a mutual agreement.

“Real Madrid C.F. announces that, by mutual consent between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to conclude Alonso’s tenure as head coach of the first team.

“Xabi Alonso will always hold a special place in the hearts of all Real Madrid fans, as he embodies the values and spirit of our club. Real Madrid will forever be his home.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to Xabi Alonso and his coaching staff for their dedication and hard work during his time with us, and we wish them every success in their future endeavors.”

This decision follows a series of disappointing performances, culminating in a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa final held in Saudi Arabia.

Sources from ESPN indicated that club executives convened to discuss Alonso’s future after a 2-0 loss to Celta Vigo at home on December 7.

At the age of 44, Alonso began his tenure in June, taking over from Carlo Ancelotti on a three-year contract. He guided the team to the semifinals of the 2025 Club World Cup during his inaugural assignment and made a promising start in LaLiga, winning his first six league matches, which earned him the La Liga Manager of the Month award for August.

Prior to joining Real Madrid, Alonso enjoyed a successful three-year stint at Bayer Leverkusen, where he led the team to their first Bundesliga title in 2024 without a single defeat, a historic achievement in German football.

Alonso’s playing career with Real Madrid spanned from 2009 to 2014, during which he won both La Liga and the Champions League in 2014.

The club has yet to announce Alonso’s successor.