OFFICIAL: Xabi Alonso leaves Real Madrid

Faruq Ibrahim 18:36 - 12 January 2026

Xabi Alonso and Florentino Perez || Image credit: Imago

Real Madrid have announced the exit of Xabi Alonso after the Supercopa de Espana defeat to Barcelona.

Real Madrid have released a statement announcing the end of Xabi Alonso's tenure as the club's head coach following the Supercopa de España defeat to Barcelona.

The 44-year-old assumed the position in the summer just before the Club World Cup. He had a rocky start, with an embarrassing exit from the competition, and further lost the trust of the club's supporters and hierarchy with multiple high-profile defeats in LALIGA and the Champions League.

The straw that broke the camel's back appears to be his poor relationship with the club's star players, specifically Vinicius, and Sunday night's Supercopa de España defeat to eternal rivals Barcelona.

Real Madrid's statement

The club made the announcement via their official website, stating that the agreement was mutual. They praised his effort and dedication and wished him success in his future endeavours.

"Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first-team coach," the statement read.

Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.

Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.

Why Real Madrid sacked Alonso

Xabi Alonso’s much-hailed return to Real Madrid as head coach last summer after a trophy-filled spell at Bayer Leverkusen (where he led the club to the 2023–24 Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal double) unravelled quickly at the Bernabéu.

After a poor showing at the Club World Cup, he had a bright start in the league that earned him LaLiga Manager of the Month in August.

However, despite the earlier optimism, Alonso’s tenure has been undermined by poor performances that saw Madrid slip to second place behind Barcelona in the league and a poor big-game record, which includes losses such as a 1–0 Champions League defeat at Liverpool, 5–2 in LALIGA to Atletico, and the most recent 3–2 Supercopa de Espana defeat to Barcelona.

His attempts to impose a new tactical identity and strict standards clashed with key players, notably Vinícius Júnior, who was often rotated and visibly frustrated, leaving Alonso struggling to command authority over established stars. Those on- and off-field struggles ultimately led to a mutual parting of ways after just seven months in charge, with Real Madrid opting for a new direction, hiring Castilla coach Alvaro Arbeloa.