Xabi Alonso Parts Ways with Real Madrid Amid Internal Struggles
January 13, 2026407 AufrufeLesezeit: 2 Minuten
Schriftgröße
16
Xabi Alonso's time as head coach at Real Madrid has been fraught with difficulties, stemming from early resistance from club president Florentino Pérez, who was reportedly not in favor of Alonso's appointment. This opposition persisted despite backing from the club's management following Alonso's successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen.
Alonso's exit came shortly after the team's 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercup final held in Jeddah. Less than a day after the match, he found himself outside the project, despite his attempts to downplay the significance of the tournament and urge the team to "move forward."
While the club's official statement referred to a "mutual agreement," sources close to Alonso indicated that it was, in fact, a clear dismissal.
From the outset, Alonso did not enjoy the full confidence of the club and failed to achieve the stature of previous coaches like Carlo Ancelotti or Zinedine Zidane.
This lack of support was evident in the locker room, where Alonso felt little backing, and some players believed his decisions were not endorsed by management. Notably, conflicts arose with Vinícius Júnior, who publicly expressed his dissatisfaction after being substituted during El Clásico.
Alonso's attempts to enforce strict discipline, such as emphasizing punctuality and limiting player entourages at training facilities, were met with resistance.
There were also disagreements regarding transfers, as Alonso sought to sign midfielder Martin Zubimendi, while management believed the current roster was sufficient.
The decline in performance and an increase in injuries heightened pressure on Alonso, particularly following the return of Antonio Pintus, the physical preparation coach during Zidane's and Ancelotti's tenures, immediately after Alonso's dismissal, signaling a clear loss of confidence in his leadership.
Although Alonso later attempted to relax restrictions and provide players with more freedom, it was too late, and with ongoing negative results, management concluded that the project was no longer viable.
