Softfootball understands that Real Madrid confirmed in an official statement today that Xabi Alonso is no longer the club’s first-team head coach. The decision, reached by mutual consent, brings an unexpectedly quick end to what was meant to be a fresh and exciting chapter at the Santiago Bernabéu.
In the announcement posted by Real Madrid via their official X account, Alonso was praised not just as a former coach but as a Real Madrid legend whose bond with the club runs far deeper than results alone.
They posted:
Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first team coach. Xabi Alonso will always have the love and admiration of all Real Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has represented the values of our club at all times. Real Madrid will always be his home.Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication throughout this time, and wishes them good luck in this new stage of their lives.
Still, behind the kind words lies a story that didn’t quite go to plan. Alonso arrived in the summer of 2025, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, with huge expectations on his shoulders. His impressive work at Bayer Leverkusen had many believing he was ready to translate that success to Spain. But football, as Madrid knows too well, can be cruel and impatient.
On the pitch, performances lacked consistency. There were flashes of promise, but they came and went too often. Injuries to key players disrupted momentum, while tactical tweaks sometimes felt forced rather than fluid. As results dipped, noise around the club grew louder, and not all of it was fair, but that’s the Madrid reality.
Reports of tension inside the dressing room also surfaced, with whispers of strained relationships involving senior figures, including Vinícius Júnior. None of this was ever officially confirmed, yet the atmosphere felt uneasy, like something was slightly off.
Following Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory against Atlético Madrid in the semi-final, the 3–2 defeat to Barcelona in the Supercopa de España final proved decisive. Losing to your biggest rivals is never easy, and this one carried extra weight. After that night, pressure from fans and media intensified fast, and the situation became difficult to steady.
Alonso leaves without the ending many hoped for, but his status as a club icon remains untouched. Sometimes, even the right ideas arrive at the wrong moment. For Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso, this feels less like a failure and more like a chapter that ended before it truly settled.
