Xabi Alonso has stepped down as head coach of Real Madrid after just over seven months in charge, with the club confirming his departure by mutual agreement in the aftermath of Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona.
The former Madrid midfielder leaves the Santiago Bernabéu with the team currently four points adrift of their Catalan rivals at the top of La Liga, a situation that hastened the club’s decision to bring his tenure to an early conclusion.
Alonso officially took over on 1 June, arriving with a glowing reputation forged during a highly successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen. There, he guided the German side to an extraordinary domestic double in the 2023/24 campaign and steered them to the Europa League final, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most admired young coaches.
His start in Madrid was largely encouraging. After leading Los Blancos to the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup, Alonso oversaw a scintillating run of form, claiming victory in 13 of 14 matches, with only a bruising derby defeat to Atlético Madrid interrupting the surge.
That early impetus, however, proved difficult to sustain. A defeat away to Liverpool on 4 November triggered a slump that produced just two wins from eight games. Although Alonso later engineered a five-match winning run, the resurgence failed to fully reassure the club’s leadership, who ultimately opted for change.
In a statement released by the club, Real Madrid expressed gratitude and respect for their former player and coach:
“Real Madrid C.F. announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first-team coach. Xabi Alonso will always enjoy the affection and admiration of Madridistas, as a club legend who has consistently represented our values. Real Madrid will always be his home.”
Alonso departs with his standing as a modern, forward-thinking coach intact. While his spell on the Madrid bench was shorter than expected, his impact and managerial promise remain undeniable, ensuring his next chapter will attract keen interest across the footballing landscape.