Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid and been replaced by former Liverpool team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa.
Former Liverpool full-back Arbeloa will take charge, being promoted from his role as head coach of development side Real Madrid Castilla.
The club released a statement on Monday, which reads: “Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first team coach.
“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.
“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.”
Real face Albacete in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, but defeat by Barcelona in the final of the Supercopa de Espana in Jeddah on Sunday proved to be Alonso’s final appearance in the dug-out.
Speaking in his final press conference before his dismissal, Alonso said in the aftermath of the damaging and ultimately defining 3-2 loss to Barcelona: “We have to move on as soon as possible. It’s the least important of the competitions we play. We have to look forward, try to get players back [from injury], get our morale back and keep going.”
But Real’s direction of travel will no longer include Alonso at the helm.
The 44-year-old had previously been strongly linked with succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool before Arne Slot was appointed, but is now unemployed having failed to collect any silverware from his seven months in charge, but a win percentage of 70% having lost six of his 34 games in charge.
Why Real have promoted Arbeloa
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Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as Alonso’s successor
Image credit: Getty Images
Following the mutual agreement to relieve Alonso of his duties, Arbeloa will now assume the role on a permanent basis with the club moving swiftly to appoint an internal successor.
Arbeloa has been Castilla coach since June 2025, having spent his entire coaching career at Real Madrid’s academy since 2020. He has worked his way gradually through the youth team set-up, coaching the Infantil A in 2020/21, Cadete A in 2021/22 and Juvenil A from 2022 to 2025, winning the treble in 2022/23 – league, Copa del Rey and Champions Cup – and the league title again in 2024/25.
As a player, Arbeloa was part of one of the most successful periods in Madrid’s history, making 238 appearances between 2009 and 2016 and winning eight major trophies, including two Champions Leagues. He was also a key member of Spain’s golden generation, earning 56 caps and lifting the 2010 World Cup and European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
During his time as a player at Liverpool, the 42-year-old moved to Merseyside on deadline day in January 2007, signed by Rafa Benitez and offloaded back to Madrid two years later in the summer of 2009 having collected just a Champions League runners-up medal from his time at Anfield.
While Madrid are four points behind rivals Barcelona in La Liga, their Champions League campaign to date has seen two of their six league fixtures end in defeat.
Real currently sit seventh in the standings, just inside the automatic spots for a last-16 berth, with a home tie with Monaco and a trip to Lisbon to face Benfica will to play in the league phase.
