Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid, it’s over. It was precisely 6:11 p.m. when Casa Blanca dropped a real bomb. “ Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his mandate 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 embodied the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home. Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this period, and wishes them good luck for this new stage of their lives. »
Eight minutes later, Casa Blanca already put an end to the suspense by announcing the name of Alonso’s successor. “Real Madrid CF announces that Álvaro Arbeloa is the new first team coach. Álvaro Arbeloa was Castilla’s coach since June 2025 and has spent his entire coaching career in the Real Madrid training center since 2020. An event that fits with what Alonso said when a journalist asked him about his possible replacement by his former teammate. “Álvaro could become a coach in the future. He’s doing very well.” For Real Madrid lovers, seeing the Castilla coach being promoted to head of the first team after the failure of a big name will undoubtedly bring back memories of the winter of 2016, when a certain Zinedine Zidane took over from Rafa Benitez.
The return to grace of Pintus
Ten years later, seeing Arbeloa take Alonso’s place is anything but a huge surprise. First of all because his name had recently been mentioned among the possible alternatives when the situation became tense around Alonso. Then, if Arbeloa was able to convince Florentino Pérez to give him a chance, it is because he did an excellent job with Castilla. Fifth in the third division, the Merengue reserve team has 10 victories in 19 matches. In addition, Arbeloa helped the progression of certain young talents at the club such as Gonzalo Garcia or Chema Andrés (sold to Stuttgart). But that’s not all. The induction of Arbeloa is also the return of certain sure values among the Merengues.
Image generation in progress
“Since his time as a player at Real Madrid, the new Real Madrid coach has had very good relations with Florentino Pérez and the management. He therefore enjoys the total confidence of Real Madrid”writing A.S.when the journalist Fabrizio Romano assures that “the club thinks that it can follow a more continuous profile, close to that of Carlo Ancelotti”. Finally, with Arbeloa at the helm, A.S. adds that it is synonymous with the confirmation of the return to favor of the physical trainer Antonio Pintus. The Italian was sidelined when Xabi Alonso took power. Since then, one of the main criticisms made of the now ex-Merengue coach has been the numerous physical problems. AS explains that Pintus is now “the strong man of Arbeloa” and that President Florentino Pérez, concerned about the physical state of his troops, pushed for his return.
