Real Madrid Sacks Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa Takes Over

The catalyst for this sudden change was the Supercopa de España final. Real Madrid faced their arch-rivals Barça in a highly anticipated match, ultimately falling by a scoreline of 3-2.

This defeat appears to have been the tipping point for club president Florentino Pérez. The loss in the final precipitated the immediate end of Alonso's command over the first team.

The timeline of his departure is remarkably short:

• Appointed on May 26 at the Bernabéu
• Replaced Carlo Ancelotti
• Dismissed 231 days later
• Following a 3-2 loss to Barça

At just 231 days, Xabi Alonso's time in charge stands as one of the shortest in the history of the club. To put this into perspective, the manager spent less than eight months leading the squad.

Alonso arrived as a celebrated former player, tasked with continuing the legacy left by Carlo Ancelotti. However, the pressure of silverware proved immense in the Spanish capital.

By mutual agreement, the club announces the termination of Xabi Alonso's contract.

The official communication from the club emphasized the nature of the split, suggesting a collaborative decision rather than a unilateral firing, though the timing indicates the Super Cup result was the decisive factor.

Real Madrid has not looked far for a replacement. The club has turned to Álvaro Arbeloa, who currently manages the reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla.

Arbeloa is a familiar face to the Bernabéu faithful, having enjoyed a successful playing career with the club. His promotion ensures continuity and stability during a turbulent week for the first-team squad.

The club's statement confirmed the transition:

• Alonso relieved of duties immediately
• Arbeloa promoted from the Castilla bench
• First team training to resume under new leadership

President Florentino Pérez is known for demanding excellence. The loss to Barça in a major domestic final was a blow to the club's prestige that the leadership was unwilling to overlook.

While the official narrative is one of mutual consent, the speed of the appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa suggests that plans for a succession were likely in motion following the cup defeat. The club is now pivoting quickly to salvage the remainder of the season.

The focus now shifts entirely to Álvaro Arbeloa and his ability to stabilize the squad. The immediate priority will be to rally the players and refocus their efforts on the remaining competitions.

For Xabi Alonso, this marks a disappointing return to management. The 231-day experiment has concluded, leaving the club to move forward under new guidance as they look to close the gap on their rivals.