Xabi Alonso has departed Real Madrid by mutual consent after less than eight months in charge and been replaced as head coach by Alvaro Arbeloa
Connor O'Neill
09:03, 13 Jan 2026
Kylian Mbappe and Xabi Alonso during Real Madrid's Champions League game against Marseille
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Kylian Mbappe has sent a message to Xabi Alonso after his exit from Real Madrid(Image: ( Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images))
Kylian Mbappe paid tribute to Xabi Alonso after he departed Real Madrid by mutual consent on Monday night. The former Liverpool midfielder had come under increasing pressure towards the end of last year, and the Spanish giants announced their decision less than 24 hours after their Spanish Super Cup defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in Saudi Arabia.
Real trail arch-rivals Barca by four points and have also lost to both Liverpool and Manchester City in the Champions League this season. And just a couple of hours after the news about Alonso broke, Mbappe took to Instagram to pay tribute to his former boss.
Sharing a photo of the pair embracing, Mbappe wrote: “It’s been short but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you. Thank you for giving me the confidence since Day 1.
Kylian Mbappe's post about Xabi Alonso on Instagram
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Kylian Mbappe's post about Xabi Alonso on Instagram(Image: )
“I will remember you as a manager who had clear ideas and knows many things about football. Best of luck for your next chapter.”
Alonso's tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu has been marred by clashes with several key players, including Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Endrick.
He was also involved in an embarrassing moment with Mbappe following the defeat to Barca on Sunday night when the forward appeared to undermine the 44-year-old.
Alonso appeared to want his players to give Barcelona a guard of honour during their trophy presentation, but no Madrid player followed him, and Mbappe seemingly waved the Spaniard away.
Xabi Alonso
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Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid on Sunday(Image: AFP or licensors)
The BBC is also reporting that Alonso argued with Mbappe about tactics before Sunday's final, and he also had a disagreement with president Florentino Perez on Monday before the decision to part ways was taken later in the day.
Alonso has been replaced by former Liverpool team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa, who joined Real as youth team coach in 2020 and was appointed in charge of their second team, Castilla, in June last year.
Confirming the changes, a Real statement read: “Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as coach of the first team.
“Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all madridismo because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.
Xabi Alonso shakes hands with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez
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Xabi Alonso shakes hands with president Florentino Perez(Image: (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
“Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication throughout this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”
While another statement read: “Real Madrid C. F. would like to announce that Álvaro Arbeloa will be the new first team coach.
“Álvaro Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025, and has spent his entire coaching career in Real Madrid's youth academy since 2020. He coached the Under-14s A in the 2020-2021 season, winning the league title, the Under-16s in the 2021-2022 season and the Under-19s from 2022 to 2025. As coach of the Under-19s, he won the treble in the 2022-2023 season (League, Copa del Rey and Champions Cup) and the League in the 2024-2025 season.
“As a player, Álvaro Arbeloa was part of Real Madrid in one of the most successful periods of its history. He defended our shirt between 2009 and 2016, in 238 official matches. During that time he won 8 trophies: 2 European Cups, 1 Club World Cup, 1 Uefa Super Cup, 1 LaLiga title, 2 Copa del Rey trophies and 1 Spanish Super Cup.
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“With the Spanish national team, Álvaro Arbeloa was also part of a historic era, in which he won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and 2 European Championships (2008 and 2012). He was capped 56 times.”