Xabi Alonso grateful to Real Madrid despite failed coaching stint

Real Madrid's head coach Xabi Alonso looks on ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, on Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo)

After his stint as the coach of Real Madrid came to an end in just seven months that were filled with turbulence, Xabi Alonso said that he was grateful for being given the “honour and responsibiity” of coaching the LaLiga heavyweights where he made a name for himself as a midfielder in his playing days.

Alonso’s rein as manager at Real Madrid was marred by defeats at the hands of European rivals like Paris St Germain in the Club World Cup, to Atletico Madrid in LaLiga, and ‌to Liverpool and ‍Manchester ⁠City in the Champions League. There were also ego clashes with star players at the club like co-captain Federico ‌Valverde and winger Vinicius Junior.

The final straw for Alonso’s tenure as coach came when Real Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona, a club Real is trailing by four points.

Real Madrid named another former club mainstay Alvaro Arbeloa as Alonso’s replacement.

Real Madrid had hired Alonso after his successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen in Germany where he helped the club clinch their first Bundesliga title without ‍losing ⁠a game. But at Real Madrid, the demands off him were much greater.

“This stage of my career has come to an end, ‌and it has not turned out as we would have liked. Coaching Real Madrid has been an honour and a responsibility,” Alonso wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

“I am grateful to the club, the players and, above all, the fans… I leave with respect, gratitude and pride in having done my best.”

The 42-year-old Arbeloa, speaking at his first press conference as Real Madrid manager, said: “Of course, I am aware of the responsibility and the task ahead of me, and I am very excited. I’ve found a group of players who are really eager… They share my enthusiasm to fight for everything and to win.”