Real Madrid part ways with Xabi Alonso, appoint Alvaro Arbeloa as new head coach

Alvaro Arbeloa

In Football, the Spanish professional association football club Real Madrid CF announced that Xabi Alonso has left his role as first team coach by mutual agreement, ending his brief tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu. The decision followed a 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup and the team falling four points behind in La Liga.

Alonso joined Real Madrid on June 1, 2025, after a successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won a domestic double and reached the Europa League final. The club thanked Alonso and his staff for their work and wished them well.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid also announced Álvaro Arbeloa as the new first-team coach. Arbeloa has been managing Real Madrid Castilla since June 2025 and has a long history with the club’s youth teams, winning multiple titles.