Xabi Alonso has reflected on leaving his position as Real Madrid head coach for the first time, with regret over how his reign unfolded “having done his best.”
Alonso left Real Madrid after just 28 games in charge on Monday evening, with the former Liverpool midfielder having won 20 of those.
It came after weeks of speculation over his position, with defeat to Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup proving the final straw to the club’s president Florentino Perez.
Xabi Alonso leaves Real Madrid: Reaction and Klopp links
The sacking:Real Madrid dismissed Xabi Alonso on January 12, 2026, following a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Immediate successor: Former Liverpool and Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as head coach. Arbeloa steps up from his role with the reserve team.
Klopp stance: Jurgen Klopp has distanced himself from the vacancy, stating that Alonso’s exit is a sign that “something isn’t quite right” at the Bernabeu.
There have since been claims of division between Alonso and his players, most notably Kylian Mbappe, which gave the Spaniard little chance of success in Madrid.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, November 3, 2025: Real Madrid's manager Xabi Alonso during a press conference at Anfield ahead of the UEFA Champions League game between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid CF. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Taking to Instagram following his departure, the 44-year-old wrote: “This professional chapter is over, and it didn’t go as we would have liked.
“Coaching Real Madrid has been both an honour and a responsibility.
“I thank the club, the players and, above all, the fans and the Madridista community for their trust and support.
“I leave with respect, gratitude and the pride of having done my best.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, October 2, 2024: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot (L) embraces Bayer Leverkusen's head coach Xabi Alonso before the UEFA Champions League game between Liverpool FC and Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Alonso was considered the front-runner for the Liverpool job following Jurgen Klopp‘s resignation in 2024, but chose to stay with Bayer Leverkusen before taking over at Real Madrid last summer.
That led the Reds to turn to Arne Slot, who has faced major doubts over his position this season despite delivering the Premier League title in his debut campaign.
There appears little chance at this stage of Liverpool removing Slot from his duties as head coach, even with Alonso’s new availability.
Real Madrid have appointed ex-Reds right-back Alvaro Arbeloa as Alonso’s replacement, though that is likely to be a short-term appointment.
Will Jurgen Klopp take over at Real Madrid after Xabi Alonso’s exit?
A man in a suit holding a microphone
Klopp has been linked with the role himself, but provided an emphatic response when asked about the possibility of taking over at the Bernabeu on Servus TV On not long after the news of Alonso’s exit.
“There were definitely a few people who felt they had to contact me directly about it,” Klopp said per GOAL.
“First of all, I think it’s another sign that something isn’t quite right there at the moment.”
The German added: “But this has absolutely nothing to do with me, and it didn’t trigger anything for me either, which would probably have been the follow-up question.
“I was surprised, that’s true – genuinely surprised. Then a few people messaged me, and I replied with various emojis.”