Real Madrid announced in an official statement the dismissal of Xabi Alonso from his position as first-team coach, just hours after losing the 2026 Spanish Super Cup to Barcelona.
Alonso took over as Real Madrid coach from Carlo Ancelotti last May, but things didn’t go well for the Basque coach despite the high expectations surrounding him after his great success with Bayer Leverkusen.
Spanish newspapers had indicated that Real Madrid’s management wasn’t planning to dismiss Alonso after the 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Super Cup final, before Florentino Pérez’s administration surprised everyone by announcing the coach’s dismissal without prior notice.
Real Madrid issued an official statement saying: “Real Madrid C.F. announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to terminate his tenure as first-team coach.”
The statement added: “Xabi Alonso will always be loved and admired by all Real Madrid fans. He is a club legend and has always embodied its values. Real Madrid will always be his home.”
In the same statement, Real Madrid announced that Álvaro Arbeloa will take over as manager until the end of the current season.
