Real Madrid have parted company with manager Xabi Alonso after a brief and tumultuous seven-month spell in charge at the Bernabeu. The decision, announced as 'by mutual agreement', came less than 24 hours after a painful 3-2 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
A Swift and Surprising Departure
The 44-year-old Spaniard, a club legend from his playing days, was dismissed on Monday. He is immediately replaced by his former Liverpool and Real Madrid teammate, Alvaro Arbeloa, who was previously in charge of the club's reserve side. Alonso's exit follows a period of mounting pressure, with Real Madrid sitting four points behind Barcelona at the top of LaLiga and rumours of a significant rift between the coach and his star-studded squad.
Shortly after the news broke, forward Kylian Mbappe became the first high-profile player to publicly acknowledge Alonso's departure. On his Instagram page, Mbappe shared a photo of the pair embracing, accompanied by a heartfelt message. "It’s been short but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you," he wrote. "Thank you for giving me the confidence since Day 1. I will remember you as a manager who had clear ideas and knows many things about football. Best of luck for your next chapter."
Underlying Tensions and Player Power
Mbappe's tribute is notable given the reported difficulties Alonso faced in managing the dressing room. The forward had shone on the pitch under Alonso, scoring 29 goals and providing five assists in just 25 games this season. However, tensions surfaced publicly after the Super Cup final. A widely circulated social media clip appeared to show Alonso urging his players to form a guard of honour for Barcelona, only for Mbappe to throw his hands up in apparent disagreement and walk away.
This incident was seen by many as symbolic of Alonso's struggles with authority. Reports from Spain suggested up to five key players were unhappy with his methods. Vinicius Junior, Thibaut Courtois, and Jude Bellingham were all said to have concerns, particularly over Alonso's tactical insistence on playing out from the back. Vinicius's frustration was visibly evident when he was substituted during El Clasico in October, and he later issued a public apology that conspicuously omitted Alonso's name.
Further reports indicated captain Fede Valverde had doubts and had to deny speculation he refused to play in a Champions League match after being deployed at right-back. Earlier this season, it was also reported that Vinicius told club president Florentino Perez he would not renew his contract while Alonso remained in charge.
A Promising Start That Quickly Unravelled
Alonso arrived at Real Madrid eight months ago with a formidable reputation, having led Bayer Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title. His start in Madrid was strong, with 13 wins from his first 14 domestic games. However, a Champions League defeat to Liverpool in early November proved a turning point. A dismal run of just two wins in eight games followed, heaping pressure on the manager.
A brief festive revival with five consecutive wins proved insufficient to save his job. The club's official statement thanked Alonso for his "work and dedication" and emphasised he "will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans". His successor, Alvaro Arbeloa, now steps into one of football's most pressurised roles with the team trailing in the title race.
