It what sounded like the impact from a tsunami, the whole of the Spanish capital was left speechless as Real Madrid announced that it had reached a mutual agreement with Xabi Alonso that will see the former midfielder leave his role as head coach of the first team.
The club was also swift to announce the appointment of a teammate of Xabi’s: Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
WHO IS ÁLVARO ARBELOA?
Álvaro Arbeloa is a well-known figure in Spanish football, having come through the academy at Real Madrid in the early 2000s.
The retired right back steps into the biggest shoes in world football, taking over a Real Madrid side that is coming off the back of a painful yet not entirely dispiriting 3-2 loss to FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup.
After failing to consistently break into the first team, he moved to Deportivo in A Coruña, before taking a move that would change the course of his career. Liverpool came calling next, and on Merseyside he would go on to feature in the UEFA Champions League final in 2007, losing to AC Milan in a historic game. It was here that he first played alongside Xabi Alonso, the man he now replaces at Real Madrid.
Real Madrid moved to sign Arbeloa in 2009, where he joined the club alongside Alonso, Kaká, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Arbeloa would go on to play over 150 times for the club, winning a LaLiga title, 2 Copas del Rey, a Super Cup, and 2 Champions Leagues. He also won the FIFA Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup with Real Madrid.
At the international level, Arbeloa was part of the historic Spain squad that dominated world football, winning consecutive European Championships and a World Cup in between.
He joins Real Madrid as manager after having taken charge of the youth teams at the club, as well as Real Madrid Castilla, the B team.
What did Carlo Ancelotti say about Álvaro Arbeloa?
In the history of Real Madrid, few coaches can be said to have ‘got’ the club like Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian won three Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey in the Spanish capital and remains a favourite with Madrid fans. He spent two spells at the Bernabéu, notably ending the team’s long wait for a tenth Champions League title in his first stint with Madrid.
Arbeloa was a part of the team that lifted the trophy in 2013/14, and Ancelotti was full of praise for the full-back. “We miss Arbeloa,” Ancelotti said in 2014, responding to a question about an injury to the Spaniard.
“We miss his attitude, personality and professionalism in the field and in training.” Those three characteristics – attitude, personality, professionalism – will be crucial if he is to succeed at Real Madrid as a coach. Never the most talented of players, Arbeloa managed to maximise his ability and support the team in whatever way he could.
Speaking in 2023, Ancelotti actually cited Arbeloa as one of three former Real Madrid players who could be Real Madrid managers of the future. He picked out Arbeloa, Alonso and Raúl as players that he “would like to see” in charge.
“I hope one day Xabi Alonso, Raúl or Arbeloa can be Real Madrid managers — because I know them, I love them, and I want that for them‚” Ancelotti said.
Alonso’s chance has come and gone. Now, it’s up to Arbeloa to test himself in the most demanding job in world soccer.
Xabi Alonso released a personal statement after being sacked from Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso has lamented the failure of his seven-month stint as Real Madrid manager but has put aside dressing room tensions to thank his players in his first public statement following his Bernabeu departure.
The Spanish coach was hired from Bayer Leverkusen after a stunning run in the Bundesliga, with the Basque helping to dethrone Bayern Munich and end a run of 11 successive league titles, but he quickly found himself under pressure amid mixed results this season.
Real Madrid’s 3-4 loss to Barcelona in the Supercopa final proved to be the final straw, which saw internal tensions play out on the pitch when star striker Kylian Mbappe was captured urging his teammates to defy their manager, who was calling on the team to form a guard of honour for their rivals.
The Independent understands that Alonso had “lost the dressing room” very early on in his Real Madrid tenure, but while recognising that his spell in the Spanish capital did not go to plan, Alonso chose not to express any ill-will to his now former colleagues.
“This professional stage is over, and it didn’t go as we would have liked,” he wrote on Instagram. “Coaching Real Madrid has been an honour and a responsibility.
“I thank the club, the players and above all the fans and Madrid fans for their trust and support. I leave with respect, gratitude, and pride that I did my best.”
Alvaro Arbeloa, a former teammate of Alonso’s with Spain, Liverpool and Real Madrid, has been appointed his successor after impressing as coach of Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s reserve team.
Alonso’s reign began with a run to the Club World Cup semi-finals in the summer before 13 wins in 14 games, but the tide began to turn against him in November with a Champions League defeat to Liverpool.
Results since then have been mixed, though he was given the backing from some of his players in early December, with Jude Bellingham saying, “The manager’s been great. I personally have a great relationship with him, and a lot of the lads do as well.
“After the first run of games, we had some really great conversations internally, and we felt we were on the back side of that form. In the past couple of games, we let ourselves down again.
However, the latest defeat to Barcelona appeared to be the final nail in the coffin for Alonso, who was swiftly replaced by Arbeloa following the announcement of his sacking.
As Real Madrid boss, Alonso won 24 of his 34 games in charge with four draws and six defeats across all competitions since his appointment in the summer of 2025, but he clashed with high-profile players such as Vinicius Jr and Real president Florentino Perez
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