Real Madrid has dismissed Xabi Alonso and appointed former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as its new head coach.
The club announced the change one day after a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. Alonso’s tenure lasted just seven months and 34 total matches.
The club stated Alonso left “by mutual agreement”. His departure followed a reported loss of control within the squad.
Tensions included a public spat with star forward Vinícius Júnior after a substitution. The Super Cup loss was the final catalyst for the change.
Alonso’s record was 24 wins, six losses, and four draws. The team trails Barcelona by four points in La Liga.
The new manager: Álvaro Arbeloa
Álvaro Arbeloa, 42, is a club legend with deep institutional knowledge. As a player, he made 238 appearances for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2016.
He won eight major titles, including two UEFA Champions League trophies. He was also a 2010 World Cup winner with Spain.
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He rejoined the club’s coaching staff in 2020. Arbeloa most recently managed Real Madrid Castilla, the reserve team. He was promoted to that role in June 2025.
Arbeloa’s first match is a Copa del Rey fixture against Albacete on Wednesday. He immediately faces the task of uniting a fractured squad.
The club has not specified the length of his contract. His appointment continues Real Madrid’s trend of hiring former players as managers.
