Álvaro Arbeloa has been appointed head coach of Real Madrid, replacing Xabi Alonso, the club announced on Monday.
In a statement, Real Madrid said the decision to part ways with Alonso was reached by mutual agreement, just eight months after the Basque coach took charge.
A separate announcement confirmed that Arbeloa, who had been managing Real Madrid Castilla, would step up to lead the first team. The club did not disclose the length of the 42-year-old’s contract.
“Álvaro Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025 and has developed his entire coaching career within Real Madrid’s academy since 2020,” the club said.
The change comes a day after Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final 3–2 to Barcelona in Saudi Arabia. The defeat proved decisive for Alonso, whose tenure had been under pressure despite a recent run of improved results.
“Real Madrid announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his tenure as first-team coach to an end,” the club said.
Arbeloa’s first match in charge will be Wednesday’s Copa del Rey last-16 tie away to second-division side Albacete.
A former Real Madrid defender, Arbeloa made 238 appearances for the club between 2009 and 2016, winning two UEFA Champions League titles, one La Liga crown, and several other trophies. He also enjoyed major international success with Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.
Alonso, who played alongside Arbeloa for both club and country, joined Madrid in June after replacing Carlo Ancelotti, signing a three-year contract running until June 2028 following his departure from Bayer Leverkusen.
However, Madrid struggled for consistency under Alonso and currently sit second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona. His position had been under threat toward the end of 2025, though a run of five consecutive league wins temporarily eased pressure.
Earlier setbacks included a heavy 4–0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals in July, while an injury crisis and reports of dressing-room tensions further complicated his tenure.
Despite a Clasico victory over Barcelona in October and a credible Champions League performance against Manchester City in December, Alonso failed to fully convince club president Florentino Pérez.
Sunday’s Super Cup defeat in Jeddah ultimately proved decisive, with the club agreeing terms for Alonso’s departure and moving swiftly to install Arbeloa as his successor.
