Real Madrid have confirmed a change on the touchline, with Xabi Alonso speaking publicly for the first time since stepping down as head coach earlier this week.
Alonso announced his departure on Monday, bringing an unexpected end to a spell that lasted just seven months of a three-year deal. Despite the short tenure, Real Madrid currently sit second in La Liga, making the decision all the more surprising.
In a message shared on social media, Alonso admitted his time at the club did not unfold as he had hoped.
“This chapter of my career has come to an end,” Alonso wrote.
It hasn’t turned out as we would have liked.
Coaching Real Madrid has been both an honour and a responsibility.
I thank the club, the players, and above all, the fans and the Madridista community for their trust and support.”
I leave with respect, gratitude, and the pride of having done my best.”
Alonso’s position came under increased pressure following defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. Results had already dipped in the weeks before, with Real winning only three of nine matches between November and December, a run that raised concerns inside the club.
The former midfielder had stepped into one of football’s most demanding jobs, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, a manager who delivered three Champions League titles across his spells in Madrid. Expectations were high, and consistency proved difficult to achieve.
Real Madrid have moved quickly to appoint a successor, promoting Alvaro Arbeloa from Real Madrid Castilla. A former first-team regular, Arbeloa is well known within the club and is expected to bring stability during the transition.
Several players paid tribute to Alonso following the announcement, including Kylian Mbappe, who thanked the coach for his trust and guidance, praising his clear ideas and football knowledge.
Before returning to Spain, Alonso enjoyed major success with Bayer Leverkusen, guiding the German side to a historic treble. That level of form, however, proved difficult to reproduce in La Liga, and Real Madrid have now opted for a new direction.
For Alonso, the chapter closes quickly but respectfully. For Real Madrid, attention turns to Arbeloa and the task of steadying the season as domestic and European ambitions remain firmly in focus.
