Real Madrid fire Xabi Alonso and name Alvaro Arbeloa as new manager

Sometimes in football, winning 20 games out of 28 still is not good enough. That is exactly what happened to Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid.

On January 12, 2026, Real Madrid shocked the football world by announcing that Alonso was leaving the club. The announcement came just one day after Real Madrid lost to Barcelona 3-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. Within minutes, the club also revealed that Alvaro Arbeloa would take over as the new Real Madrid manager.

Why Did Xabi Alonso Get Fired?

Xabi Alonso joined Real Madrid as manager in May 2025. He replaced Carlo Ancelotti, who had left to coach the Brazilian national team before the 2026 World Cup. At the time, everyone expected great things from Alonso. After all, he had just done something amazing at Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. He won the Bundesliga title and ended Bayern Munich’s dominance of German football.

When Alonso returned to Madrid, a club where he had played from 2009 to 2014, fans were excited. Here was a club legend coming home to lead the team. Things started well too. Real Madrid won 10 of their first 11 La Liga games under his leadership.

But then problems started to appear. Reports came out about tension between Alonso and some of the biggest stars on the team. Vinicius Junior was reportedly unhappy after being substituted during one match. There were rumors that other players did not connect with Alonso’s coaching style.

Results also started to slip. Real Madrid lost to Liverpool in the Champions League. They fell to Celta Vigo at home, which was particularly embarrassing. A loss to Manchester City added to the pressure. By the time Barcelona beat them in the Super Cup final, it was clear that changes were coming.

Despite these struggles, Alonso’s overall record was actually pretty good. He won 20 games, drew 3, and lost only 5 during his time in charge. Real Madrid sits in second place in La Liga, just four points behind Barcelona. They are also doing well in the Champions League, with four wins and two losses placing them in seventh position.

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon spoke to Sky Sports about the firing. He called it a surprise and suggested the real problem was not the manager but the squad planning. He pointed out that the club lost legendary midfielders Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in recent years without finding proper replacements.

Who Is Alvaro Arbeloa?

The new man in charge, Alvaro Arbeloa, might not be a household name for younger fans. But he is very well known to anyone who followed Real Madrid and Spanish football during the 2010s.

As a player, Arbeloa was a right back who spent seven seasons at Real Madrid from 2009 to 2016. He made 238 appearances for the club and was part of some incredible moments. He won two Champions League titles, one La Liga title, two Copa del Rey trophies, one Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, and one Spanish Super Cup.

On the international stage, Arbeloa was part of the golden generation of Spanish football. He earned 56 caps for his country and won the biggest trophies possible. He was on the squad that won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He also won the European Championship twice, in 2008 and 2012.

Before joining Real Madrid, Arbeloa played for Liverpool in the Premier League. He was actually a teammate of Xabi Alonso at both Liverpool and Real Madrid, which makes this whole situation even more interesting.

Arbeloa’s Coaching Journey

After retiring from playing in 2017, Arbeloa returned to Real Madrid in 2020 to start his coaching career. He has spent the last six years working in the club’s famous youth academy, known as La Fabrica.

His success with the young players has been remarkable. In his first season, he led the Infantil A team (under-14s) to the league title. He then moved up to coach Cadete A (under-16s) and eventually Juvenil A (under-19s).

With Juvenil A, Arbeloa achieved something special. In the 2022-2023 season, his team won the treble by capturing the League, Copa del Rey, and Champions Cup. His side also won the league again in 2024-2025. In total, Arbeloa has won 151 of his 200 games as a youth coach, which is an incredible record.

In June 2025, he was promoted to manage Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s reserve team. Now, just seven months later, he has jumped straight to the biggest job in Spanish football.

What Style Will Arbeloa Bring?

Reports from Spain describe Arbeloa’s teams as committed, aggressive, and hardworking. His style has been compared to Jurgen Klopp because of how much he emphasizes winning the ball high up the pitch. His teams like to press hard and go directly toward goal when they get possession.

One big difference from Alonso might be personality. Alonso was known for being cool and collected on the sidelines. Arbeloa is described as much more passionate and vocal. He is not afraid to show emotion and will bring a different energy to the touchline.

What Happens Next?

Arbeloa will take charge immediately. His first game as senior team manager will be a Copa del Rey match against Albacete on Wednesday at the Carlos Belmonte stadium. His first La Liga game will come on Saturday, January 17, when Real Madrid host Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The challenges ahead are significant. Real Madrid needs to close the gap on Barcelona in La Liga. They need to progress in the Champions League. And most importantly, Arbeloa needs to figure out how to get the best out of expensive stars like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham.

Some observers believe the club may still be looking for a bigger name to take over permanently. Names like Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti have been mentioned, though both appear committed to other projects. For now, Arbeloa has his chance to prove that his youth team success can translate to the highest level of football.

The pressure at Real Madrid is unlike anywhere else in the world. Three managers in the past year shows just how difficult this job can be. Whether Arbeloa can handle that pressure remains to be seen, but his track record of winning and his deep understanding of the club give him a fighting chance.