The honeymoon ended abruptly and brutally for Xabi Alonso. Just 24 hours after a painful 2-3 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in the Supercopa de España final, Real Madrid officially relieved Alonso of his duties, early Tuesday morning, January 13, 2026.
The decision marks the culmination of Los Blancos’ impatience with their young coach. Alonso had arrived with a glowing reputation, having recently led Bayer Leverkusen to an undefeated Bundesliga title, making him one of the most sought-after managers in Europe.
However, Santiago Bernabéu has its own rules. Past achievements and legendary status as a former player do not grant immunity from scrutiny.
Alvaro Arbeloa, the current Real Madrid Castilla coach known for safeguarding the “Madrid DNA,” was immediately appointed to restore stability amid the chaos.
Early Season Illusions
Alonso’s dismissal comes as a shock, especially when reviewing his early-season record, which looked solid on paper. By early November 2025, Real Madrid had briefly led La Liga by five points and won the first El Clásico of the season 2-1.
A dominant 4-0 home win over Valencia further cemented the impression of early-season supremacy, with Madrid winning 13 of their first 14 matches across all competitions.
Yet behind these numbers, cracks began to appear. A streak of six consecutive away games without a win marked a turning point, beginning with a loss to Liverpool and a goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano.
The situation worsened in December, with back-to-back home defeats to Celta Vigo and Manchester City within four days.
For President Florentino Pérez, losing at home to a mid-table side like Celta Vigo was more than a disappointing result—it was an insult to the institution itself.
Before the Man City defeat, Alonso had tried to calm the storm in a press conference with optimistic rhetoric:
“We are all in the same boat. We must go through both positive and negative moments,” he said, attempting to remain resilient amid mounting criticism.
He added, “We need to believe that the next match is an opportunity… Emotional connection with the fans is very important for tomorrow.”
Unfortunately, that emotional connection broke far sooner than anyone expected.
Tactical Compromises and Challenges
One of Alonso’s primary struggles was adapting the philosophy that brought him success in Germany. At Leverkusen, he thrived with a disciplined 3-4-2-1 formation, but at Madrid, this clashed with the egos and habits of superstar players.
Alonso was forced to compromise with a 4-2-3-1 system, but the result felt half-baked.
The Supercopa final defeat to Barcelona highlighted the shortcomings starkly. Madrid was thoroughly dominated, holding only 29% possession and appearing outclassed in every department.
Spanish media outlet AS reported that in his final meeting at Valdebebas, Alonso admitted to feeling “fatigued by the situation.”
Dressing Room Friction: Vinicius and the Shadow of the Galácticos
Tactical difficulties were compounded by Alonso’s failure to win over the ‘small kings’ in the dressing room. Unlike Carlo Ancelotti or Zinedine Zidane, who excel at managing star egos, Alonso’s approach was seen as rigid.
Rumors of a strained relationship with Vinicius Junior were widely known. Their cold rapport reportedly drew subtle jabs from Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone, referencing Vinicius’s diminished status in Bernabéu’s hierarchy.
It wasn’t just Vinicius. Trent Alexander-Arnold, a high-profile signing, barely featured, starting only five La Liga matches, while Federico Valverde frequently filled in at right-back instead.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé carried much of the attacking burden alone during a prolonged goal drought from Vinicius and Rodrygo. When a system demands collective cohesion but players seek individual freedom, the coach is often the first to be sacrificed.
Arbeloa’s Classic Mission
Now, Alvaro Arbeloa steps in with a familiar task: simplify tactics, restore comfort for the star players, and hope the legendary “Bernabéu magic” returns.
In many ways, this appointment reflects Madrid’s traditional approach: prioritize harmony in the dressing room and let individual brilliance shine, even if it comes at the cost of intricate tactical systems.
Alonso’s tenure may have been short, but it serves as a cautionary tale: at Real Madrid, even philosophy and pedigree must sometimes bow to the egos of the Galácticos.
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