Less than 24 hours after defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup, Real Madrid confirmed that Xabi Alonso has left the club by mutual consent.
The timing felt abrupt. Only months ago, Madrid looked settled and successful under their former midfielder. Victories over Barcelona, a five-point lead at the top of La Liga and an unbeaten European run suggested Alonso’s first season was heading in the right direction.
That optimism has since evaporated.
Madrid now find themselves behind in the title race and beaten by their biggest rivals in a domestic final. The Super Cup loss proved decisive, but the issues had been building for some time.
Results and Momentum Turned Quickly
The first serious warning came in September’s Madrid derby. Atlético’s 5-2 win was Alonso’s first defeat of the season and exposed defensive fragility and tactical imbalance. At the time, it was dismissed as an anomaly.
More concern followed in the Champions League. A struggling Liverpool side dominated Madrid at Anfield, winning 1-0 and only failing to score more because of Thibaut Courtois. For the first time, questions were raised about whether Alonso’s approach suited the squad he had inherited.
Domestically, momentum stalled. Draws against Rayo Vallecano, Elche and Girona allowed Barcelona back into the title picture, while a December defeat to Manchester City saw Madrid slide down the Champions League standings.
Throughout that run, Florentino Pérez remained publicly silent. At Real Madrid, that silence is rarely accidental.
Sunday’s Super Cup defeat to Barcelona removed any remaining doubt.
A Clash of Philosophy
Alonso’s ideas were clear from the outset. He wanted control. Madrid pressed in a more structured way, built attacks patiently and prioritised possession over transition. Games became slower, more deliberate and more predictable.
That represented a clear break from recent success.
Under Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid thrived on freedom. Players were trusted to solve problems themselves, often through individual brilliance or quick transitions. Structure existed, but it never felt restrictive.
For several of Madrid’s senior attackers, Alonso’s system felt constraining. Creativity was coached rather than instinctive. Rumours of dressing room dissatisfaction surfaced early, and at a club where player influence remains strong, that is often decisive.
Tactically, Alonso was flexible in shape, but not in principle. Control was non-negotiable. Over time, results and relationships both suffered.
What Happens Next
Álvaro Arbeloa has been appointed interim head coach after stepping up from Castilla, where he had been in charge since June 2025. He has no senior managerial experience and is not expected to be a long-term solution unless results immediately improve.
As for Alonso, his standing in the game remains high. He leaves Madrid as a club legend and a manager still viewed as one of Europe’s brightest. With uncertainty at Manchester United and Chelsea, and long-term interest from Liverpool never far away, he is unlikely to be out of work for long.
If Madrid recover to win La Liga or the Champions League, Pérez will argue the decision was justified. For now, it feels more like another example of Madrid choosing dressing room stability over long-term vision.
Alonso’s Madrid reign promised control and progression. It ends instead with a familiar conclusion. At the Bernabéu, patience remains a rare commodity.
