Xabi Alonso leaves Real Madrid after seven months as critics question his fit

According to Goal, Xabi Alonso has been bluntly told why he was never going to succeed as Real Madrid's manager following his sudden departure from the club. Alonso swapped Bayer Leverkusen for his former club last summer but was in charge for just over seven months, leaving less than 24 hours after Madrid lost a dramatic Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona.

The club said the decision was "mutual" and announced Alvaro Arbeloa will succeed Alonso temporarily; the exit statement added that "Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend". Arbeloa has coached Castilla since June 2025 and previously led Real Madrid youth sides, winning a Juvenil A treble in 2022-2023 and La Liga in 2024-2025.

Former Valencia star Gaizka Mendieta told CasinoStugan that Alonso's compact, high-pressing approach that succeeded at Leverkusen was never going to work at Real Madrid: "Personally, I don't think we saw the style that Xabi Alonso wanted... I have never seen that at Real Madrid, ever.

Key Topics

Sports, Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid, Alvaro Arbeloa, Spanish Super Cup, Gaizka Mendieta