Real Madrid announced on Monday 12 January the end of coach Xabi Alonso’s tenure with the first team, just hours after losing the Spanish Super Cup title to traditional rival Barcelona.

Real Madrid has a new coach

Real Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final 3-2 to Barcelona in a match played on Sunday evening in Saudi Arabia, bringing Alonso’s spell with the Royal Club to a swift end.

The club said in an official statement that the decision to terminate the contract was mutual and praised Alonso’s contributions during his tenure. The statement emphasised that Xabi Alonso will remain appreciated and loved by Real Madrid fans as one of the club’s legends who embodied its values and history, stressing that the club will always be his home.

Real Madrid thanked its former coach and his technical staff for their efforts and commitment, wishing them success in their next endeavours.

Chabi Alonso took over as Real Madrid coach last summer, succeeding Italian Carlo Ancelotti, who left to take charge of the Brazilian national team, but his spell did not last long.

In a swift and decisive move, the club announced the appointment of Spaniard Álvaro Arbeloa as the new technical director of the first team, putting an end to speculation about the identity of the next coach. Arbeloa has been coach of Castilla since June 2025 and has spent his entire coaching career at the Real Madrid academy since 2020.

Arbeloa is one of the club’s own, having played for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2016, making 238 official appearances and contributing to eight major titles, including two Champions League titles, one La Liga title, and other domestic and continental titles.

At international level, Arbeloa was part of the golden generation of the Spanish football national team, winning the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships, and playing 56 international matches for La Roja.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

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