Fifteen months is how long it took before Real Madrid moved on from Xabi Alonso’s leadership, a span marked by uneven outcomes plus a loss to Barcelona in the Supercopa finale. The word is out: both sides agreed that he would step down. Taking over now is Álvaro Arbeloba, quietly promoted and already at work.

Back at the club where he once starred, Alonso stepped into the top coaching job in June 2025, fresh off a standout campaign with Bayer Leverkusen and bound by a long-term deal. Things opened well – solid showings in La Liga, wins piling up, signs of steady progress everywhere. Still, shaky form crept in; results wavered as months passed. By year’s end, dips in performance had fans questioning, whispers turning louder, trust beginning to thin.
That defeat to Barcelona, 3-2 in the Supercopa final under Saudi skies, changed everything. Right after the final whistle, Real Madrid moved on from Alonso’s form, and plans were named as reasons. Not long afterward, word spread: Álvaro Arbeloa, once a steady presence at the back for the senior side, was now leading it. His past role? In charge of the reserves. Now he steps up.

Fresh from years guiding young talent at Castilla, Arbeloa stepped into Real Madrid’s coaching circle back in 2020. Stability drives his role now, woven into the club’s long-term approach behind the scenes. As fixtures pile up toward Copa del Rey clashes and the final stretch of La Liga, calm leadership takes center stage.
Gratitude poured out from Alonso as he stepped away, honoring both the team and its supporters. His years at Real Madrid? A privilege, even if things ended differently than hoped. Moving fast to bring in Arbeloa shows how urgently the club wants to reset direction. This shift arrives amid pressure, during a campaign where everyone demands more.

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Source: Sky Sport