On January 12, 2026, Real Madrid shook things up by parting ways with Xabi Alonso by mutual agreement, and naming former teammate Álvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach ⚽👑
The decision came after last Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah—a match that had all the drama of a K-drama finale 🎬. Madridistas expected fireworks under Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti last May with high hopes. But a string of underwhelming performances, spats with stars like Vinícius Júnior, and reports of a restless locker room piled on the pressure.
In his 34 matches in charge, Alonso notched 24 wins, 6 losses, and 4 draws. Yet the vibes just weren’t there. After the Jeddah defeat, a planned guard of honour for Barça went off script when Kylian Mbappé and other players walked away—an image that summed up a season of mixed signals.
Mbappé was the first to post a farewell message, thanking Alonso for the confidence he showed since day 1: It was a pleasure to play for you & learn from you. Best of luck for your next chapter, he wrote on Instagram. Other players chimed in with good luck wishes, though Vinícius’s silence spoke volumes.
Now Arbeloa—who shared the pitch with Alonso at Liverpool, Madrid, and Spain’s 2010 World Cup winning squad—takes the reins. His first test? The Copa del Rey round of 16 at Albacete this Wednesday. Will Arbeloa reignite the Galácticos’ spark? Stay tuned! 🔥
Reference(s):
Xabi Alonso parts ways with Real Madrid, Alvaro Arbeloa takes over
cgtn.com
