Spanish football giants Real Madrid have parted ways with their manager, Xabi Alonso, just hours after their 3–2 defeat to Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.
The club confirmed the decision in a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday.
“Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his spell as first-team coach,” the statement read.
The club praised Alonso for his legacy, noting that he remains a respected figure among Madrid supporters.
“Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of Madrid fans. He is a true Real Madrid legend who has consistently embodied the values of this club. Real Madrid will always be his home,” the statement added.
Madrid also expressed gratitude to Alonso and his coaching staff for their commitment and wished them success in their future careers.
It will be recalled that the club had only recently announced Alonso as the successor to Carlo Ancelotti, who is set to assume the role of head coach of the Brazilian national team. Alonso was expected to officially take charge from June 1, 2025, with a contract running until June 30, 2028, and lead the team at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
The 43-year-old Spaniard was signed from Bayer Leverkusen, where he enjoyed remarkable success, including a historic Bundesliga and German Cup double in the 2023/2024 season, finishing the league unbeaten.
Alonso, a former Real Madrid midfielder, made 236 appearances for the club between 2009 and 2014, winning six major trophies during that period.
Real Madrid’s recent campaign under Ancelotti was largely disappointing. While they secured the European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup, they were eliminated from the Champions League quarter-finals by Arsenal and lost both the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals to Barcelona, who also reclaimed the La Liga title.
Despite the arrival of French superstar Kylian Mbappé, who scored 31 league goals and is expected to win the European Golden Shoe, Madrid struggled defensively and failed to secure a major domestic or European trophy.
Alonso’s anticipated task was to restore balance and defensive stability to the squad without weakening its attacking strength, but his tenure has now come to an abrupt end.
