JUST IN: Xabi Alonso leaves Real Madrid

Real Madrid have ended their relationship with head coach Xabi Alonso just hours after the club’s dramatic three–two loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The club confirmed that Alonso’s departure was reached by mutual consent, bringing a swift end to the forty-four-year-old’s brief and turbulent spell at the Santiago Bernabeu. The decision came less than a day after Madrid suffered a late collapse against their fierce rivals, a defeat that appeared to accelerate events behind the scenes.

In recent weeks, speculation had grown around Alonso’s future amid reports of unrest within the dressing room, with suggestions that the former midfielder no longer enjoyed the full backing of the squad. Alonso, who arrived last summer from Bayer Leverkusen, endured a challenging tenure marked by inconsistency and mounting pressure, which ultimately peaked with the Super Cup final defeat.

Despite the sudden nature of the exit, Real Madrid struck a warm tone in their official announcement. “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,” the statement read.

The club also paid tribute to his legacy, saying, “Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.”

Real Madrid went on to acknowledge the efforts of Alonso and his staff, adding, “Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”

While the statement emphasised mutual respect, the timing of the decision has raised questions about internal pressures at the club. The sudden change has left supporters stunned, with attention now turning to how Los Blancos will stabilise their campaign as they continue their fight in La Liga and the Champions League.