Real Madrid announced this Monday (12) the dismissal of coach Xabi Alonso, one day after the 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. Álvaro Arbeloa, coach of Castilla —the club’s B team—, will take charge of the main team, initially, on an interim basis.
The defeat was the final chapter of a trajectory marked by disagreements with some athletes, including the Brazilian Vinicius Junior, in addition to the irregular performance of the team under his command.
In a statement, the club stated that the dismissal occurred by “common agreement” and highlighted that the former player “will always have the affection and admiration of Real Madrid fans, as he is a legend of the club and has always represented the values of Real Madrid”.
Announced as Real’s coach in May 2025, Alonso also played for the club as a player between 2009 and 2014, a period in which he won five titles, including the 2013/14 Champions League. As coach, he leaves his position without adding trophies to the gallery.
Shortly after announcing Alonso’s departure, Real Madrid announced the promotion of Álvaro Arbeloa to the first team on an interim basis. Coach of Castilla since June 2025, he has played in the club’s youth categories since 2020.
As a player, Arbeloa played for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2016, playing 238 official matches. During this period, he won eight titles: two Champions Leagues, a Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, a Spanish Championship, two King’s Cups and a Spanish Super Cup.
For the Spanish national team, he was part of a historic generation, winning the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. Arbeloa played 56 matches for Spain.
