Xabi Alonso was fired by Real Madrid earlier this month despite boasting a win rate in excess of 70 per cent across his short spell in charge of Los Blancos
15:03, 21 Jan 2026Updated 15:03, 21 Jan 2026
Jamie Carragher gave his verdict on Xabi Alonso's sacking
Jamie Carragher gave his verdict on Xabi Alonso's sacking(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher believes Xabi Alonso's firing by Real Madrid was actually a good thing for his former Liverpool teammate – because Alonso wasn't being given the licence to do the things he wanted to at the Spanish giant.
Alonso was installed as Carlo Ancelotti's replacement last summer but lasted just a few months in the post, losing his job following Madrid's defeat by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final earlier this month.
Alonso boasted a win rate in excess of 70 per cent during his short time in charge, but seemingly that wasn't enough to sufficiently convince his paymasters that he was taking the team in the right direction.
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Another former Liverpool player, Alvaro Arbeloa, replaced Alonso as the Madrid manager, and has won two of his three games in charge – including a 6-1 victory over Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Carragher was asked on CBS Sports whether he was taken aback by Madrid's decision to axe Alonso, and he responded: "A little bit, but I think midway through the first half of the season, I did look at the situation and I did feel Xabi wouldn't be in charge after the winter break.
"I know that happened, so why would I be surprised? But I think on the back of them improving, the Barcelona game that they lost where they played particularly well and were unfortunate not to take it to extra time and penalties...
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"I actually think it's probably better for Xabi that's he out to be honest, because he went in with an idea and it quickly became apparent that he wasn't going to be allowed to coach the way he wanted to or set up the team the way he wanted to.
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"There were obviously problems with certain players who didn't want to buy into that idea. So I actually think it was better for him, because even if he'd have had success – or the season had gone on and he'd have won the title – deep down he would have known 'this is not my way, this is not the way I want to do things, I've not been brought in to coach Real Madrid like this'.
"So I think it's probably better for him to get out of there really. There was obviously a situation where they said they wanted a coach – but they need a manager, not a coach."