Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has been sacked less than 24 hours after losing the Spanish Supercup final to Barcelona.
The Spaniard had come under increasing pressure in recent weeks amid rumours of a rift with his players and the defeat in El Clasico has proven to be the final straw.
Madrid announced that Alonso, who made 236 appearances for Los Blancos as a player, has left the club this evening ‘by mutual agreement’.
Alvaro Arbeloa, who played with Alonso during their days together at Liverpool, has been appointed as his permanent successor. The 42-year-old has been working with Madrid’s academy since 2020 and has been in charge of Castilla, the club’s B-team, since last summer.
A statement read: ‘Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first-team coach
‘Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has been sacked less than 24 hours after losing the Spanish Supercup final to Barcelona
Madrid’s B-team coach Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as the club’s new head coach
Arbeloa and Alonso played together during their days at Liverpool (Pictured in May 2009 with Jamie Carragher)
‘Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.’
Alonso leaves the Estadio Bernabeu with Madrid four points adrift of bitter rivals Barcelona, who triumphed in the Supercup on Sunday night thanks to a brace from Raphinha and a classy finish from Robert Lewandowski.
Gonzalo Garcia and Vinicius Jr, who’s been at the centre of a reported rift with Alonso for much of this season, scored the Los Blancos goals but it wasn’t enough, despite Barca midfielder Frenkie de Jong being sent off late on.
Alonso shared a brief embrace with Florentino Perez after the final whistle as the defeated Madrid stars picked up their runners-up medal, though the ruthless Los Blancos chief pulled the plug on the former Bayer Leverkusen boss just hours later.
Arbeloa, a former World Cup winner with Spain who played for both Madrid and Liverpool as a player, has been appointed as the club’s new first-team coach. His first game in the dugout will be against Levante at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
‘Real Madrid CF announces that Alvaro Arbeloa is the new first team coach,’ an announcement, released just minutes after news of Alonso’s sacking broke, read.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow.
