Coach Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid by mutual agreement a day after their 3-2 defeat by rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup, the LaLiga club announced.
Real Madrid parted ways with Alonso a little more than seven months after appointing him, following a poor run of results in all competitions.
Poor performances under Alonso included humbling losses to Paris St Germain in the Club World Cup, to Atletico Madrid in LaLiga, and Liverpool and Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.
“Xabi Alonso will always have the love and admiration of all Real Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has represented the values of our club at all times. Real Madrid will always be his home,” the club said in a statement.
Former Real midfielder Alonso, who was handed a three-year contract in May after an impressive stint with Bayer Leverkusen, saw his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu quickly unravel.
The former Spain international had guided Leverkusen to a historic unbeaten campaign to win the Bundesliga title in the 2023-2024 season, along with a German Cup triumph and a Europa League final appearance, prompting Real to bring him back to the club as manager.
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However, Alonso’s return failed to replicate the success of a fellow former Real Madrid midfielder, Zinedine Zidane, who famously led the club to three consecutive Champions League titles.
Second-team manager and former defender Alvaro Arbeloa will take over the first team job. Arbeloa will be on the sidelines on Wednesday as Real visit second-division side Albacete in a Copa del Rey round of 16 tie.
Arbeloa played for Real during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history, between 2009 and 2016, playing 238 matches and winning eight titles, including two Champions League trophies.
He was also in the Spain squad that won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships, making 56 international appearances.