Xabi Alonso Dismissed as Real Madrid Coach Amid Locker Room Discontent and Poor Results
Xabi Alonso was dismissed as Real Madrid coach after seven months due to locker room issues, poor results, and internal divisions, with Álvaro Arbeloa appointed as his successor.
- • Xabi Alonso was dismissed after seven months due to poor results and internal team issues.
- • Significant defeats included losses to PSG (4-0) and Atlético Madrid (5-2).
- • Disputes with Vinícius Júnior and squad division undermined Alonso’s position.
- • José María Guti highlighted locker room discomfort as key to Alonso’s departure.
- • Álvaro Arbeloa was appointed as the new coach, with hope for positive leadership ahead.
Key details
Real Madrid has dismissed Xabi Alonso as head coach just seven months after his arrival, citing multiple challenges that included poor team performances, strained player relations, and internal divisions within the squad. Despite expectations for Alonso to build on his successful tenure at Bayer Leverkusen, his stint was marred by several significant defeats, such as a 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain and a 5-2 defeat against Atlético Madrid. Additionally, Alonso's management style faced scrutiny, especially regarding his difficult relationship with star player Vinícius Júnior, which reportedly caused dissent among the players.
According to reports, Alonso also struggled to imprint a cohesive playing style on Real Madrid, with the team overly dependent on individual talents like Kylian Mbappé rather than a unified strategy. The club president, Florentino Pérez, never fully supported Alonso, further complicating his position. The situation exacerbated following a heavy loss to Barcelona in the Supercopa de España, intensifying rumors about Alonso's precarious future.
Former Real Madrid player and current youth coach José María Gutiérrez, known as Guti, attributed Alonso’s exit to a lack of harmony within the locker room, noting that discomfort was visible both in training sessions and on match days. Guti compared Alonso's results to those of Barcelona's coach Flick and highlighted the evident unease in the dressing room as a critical factor in the decision.
In response to Alonso’s departure, Real Madrid appointed Álvaro Arbeloa as the new head coach. Guti described Arbeloa as an "unknown factor" but expressed faith in the club's trust in him, given his extensive experience with Real Madrid's youth teams. He also referenced Zidane's initial uncertain start when promoted to the first team, offering hope for a positive tenure under Arbeloa’s guidance.
Real Madrid now looks toward rebuilding team unity and forging a clear tactical vision under their new coach as they aim to regain stability and success in the season ahead.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
