Real Madrid sack Xabi Alonso after promising season start

Details: Published: 12 January 2026

Real Madrid made a high-impact decision on Monday by bringing Xabi Alonso’s tenure as head coach to an end just months after his arrival. The club announced that the contract termination was reached by mutual agreement, closing a chapter that had begun with high expectations following the Basque coach’s successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen.

Alonso, 44, returned to the club where he once starred as a player in the summer of 2025 after leading Leverkusen to a historic domestic double in 2024. His appointment sparked optimism among supporters, and the early results seemed to justify it: Real Madrid recorded 13 wins in their first 14 official matches, the best start to a season in the club’s history. However, performances gradually declined, with the turning point coming in early November after a 1-0 Champions League defeat to Liverpool, which marked the beginning of an extended slump.

In La Liga, Real Madrid fell behind in the title race and now sit four points adrift of Barcelona. In the Champions League, the team is currently in seventh place, leaving them at risk of being pushed into the playoff round. The decisive blow came on Sunday, when Madrid lost 3-2 to their Catalan rivals in the Spanish Super Cup final, a match that ultimately proved to be Alonso’s last in charge.

Reports suggest that Alonso also faced internal tensions with parts of the squad, further accelerating the end of a project that had been scheduled to run until 2028. As a result, the former successor to Carlo Ancelotti exits in abrupt fashion, in sharp contrast to the promising start that once raised hopes around the club. His replacement is already confirmed: Álvaro Arbeloa.

The former Real Madrid defender, 42, steps up after serving as head coach of the club’s second team since last summer. A World Cup winner with Spain in 2010 and a two-time European champion in 2008 and 2012, Arbeloa represents a return to club identity and internal continuity. He will make his official debut on the bench this Wednesday in the Copa del Rey match against second-division side Albacete.

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Williams Valverde

Williams Valverde is an editorial analyst and columnist known for his firm, reflective perspective on politics, society, and contemporary culture. His writing combines strategic depth with narrative clarity, offering thoughtful insights that encourage critical thinking and responsible dialogue. With a strong commitment to journalistic integrity and balanced analysis, Valverde explores complex global developments with composure and precision. His work seeks not only to inform, but to elevate the conversation — bridging facts with insight in a rapidly changing world.

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