Xabi Alonso‘s meteoric rise from midfield maestro for clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich to one of the most sought-after managers in European football has taken a stunning turn. After a brief but impactful tenure at Real Madrid – abruptly ending just seven months after taking the helm – questions are swirling around the reasons for his departure and the challenges he faced managing a team of global superstars. This article details the circumstances surrounding Alonso’s resignation, offering insight into the pressures of leading a footballing institution like Real Madrid and the difficulties of navigating a star-studded locker room.
Xabi Alonso’s illustrious playing career saw him excel at top clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. He secured league titles in Germany and Spain, and twice lifted the Champions League trophy. With the Spanish national team, he experienced a golden era, winning both the World Cup and two European Championships.
Throughout his career, Alonso learned from some of the most respected managers in the sport, including Pep Guardiola, José Mourinho, and Carlo Ancelotti.
“He has all the qualities to become a very good coach,” Mourinho said in 2019, as Alonso began his managerial journey with Real Sociedad’s reserve team. “His father was a coach, so he grew up in a footballing family. Xabi was an excellent footballer, his positional intelligence and understanding of the game were always exceptional. He played in three great leagues, under great coaches. I have no doubt about him.”
After a three-year stint, Bayer Leverkusen took a chance on Alonso in 2022, when the team was second to last in the Bundesliga standings. The appointment was considered bold, given his limited managerial experience – only a single prior role with Real Sociedad’s B team and a recent relegation to Spain’s third tier. Could he rescue the German club from disaster?
The gamble paid off. Alonso quickly instilled order and a clear playing style, lifting the team to a sixth-place finish despite a difficult start. His first full season as head coach saw Leverkusen achieve unprecedented success.
The club secured its first-ever Bundesliga title, ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year dominance. They also won the German Cup and reached the Europa League final.
The former midfield maestro quickly became the most sought-after coach in Europe.
“Dinosaurs like me, Guardiola, Mourinho, or Ancelotti won’t be around for the next twenty years,” said Jürgen Klopp. “A new generation is here, and Xabi clearly stands out. The football he plays, the way he builds his team, the players he brings in… it’s absolutely exceptional work.”
It was widely anticipated that Alonso wouldn’t remain at Leverkusen for long, and that clubs he’d previously played for would be vying for his signature.
Bayern Munich was searching for a new manager following Thomas Tuchel’s departure, while Liverpool needed to address the managerial vacancy left by Klopp’s surprise resignation. Speculation also arose that Carlo Ancelotti’s time at Real Madrid was nearing its end.
Alonso ultimately decided to stay with Leverkusen for another season. With both Bayern and Liverpool needing to fill their managerial positions, many believed he would become Real Madrid’s coach the following season.
That prediction came true in June of last year, marking the end of Ancelotti’s successful, but waning, tenure at Real Madrid. The world’s biggest club finally had its dream coach – a young manager with a vision and authority capable of leading the club for the next fifteen years.
However, just seven months later, Alonso resigned as Real Madrid’s coach.
The Toughest Task? Managing the Locker Room
The 44-year-old Spaniard was tasked with elevating the club to a new level. Real finished second to Barcelona in the previous season, and was eliminated by Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals. Alonso aimed to bring the high-tempo, relentless pressing, and dynamic play that characterized his Leverkusen team.
He also sought to rebuild the squad. The departure of Luka Modrić signaled the end of an era, and Real’s transfer activity reflected this shift. The club spent €158 million on left-back Álvaro Carreras, center-back Dean Huijsen, and winger Franco Mastantuono – all aged 22, 20, and 18, respectively, signaling a clear bet on the future.
In addition to the new signings, Alonso faced established stars like Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior. This proved to be a significant challenge.
It’s long been said that coaching Real Madrid isn’t for everyone. The demands – from trophy-hungry fans to the club’s autocratic president, Florentino Pérez – are immense. Equally crucial to success is managing the Real Madrid locker room.
Other Options for Alonso | Sport SZ
Liverpool. The club from Anfield appears to have overcome its biggest crisis. However, the team of expensive players is not performing as expected. A dispute with Mohamed Salah sparked a debate about the future of coach Arne Slot, who does not have a secure position like his predecessor Klopp. Xabi is a favorite of the Liverpool fans and would reunite with Wirtz and Frimpong, his heroes from Leverkusen.
Manchester City. With Pep Guardiola, you never know. One day it looks like he will leave City after the season, the next day he announces that he will be here for another twenty years. If he were to leave, the light blues would go for a concept and a progressive approach, ideally for the long term. Alonso would undoubtedly be among the candidates for the vacant position.
PSG. The Champions League-winning coach Luis Enrique would like to experience a new challenge. He openly admits that he is particularly attracted to the Premier League. In Paris, they would look for someone to build on his work. The club is focusing on developing young talents who do not have egos that reach for the sky, which could suit Alonso.
Bayern Munich. Currently unlikely, coach Vincent Kompany has quickly gained popularity and Bayern are playing top football. But if Guardiola were to leave and Manchester craved his former captain? The proud Bayern might hesitate. However, if the departure of the Belgian coach meant the arrival of Alonso, they might be willing to consider it.
Previous managers like Rafael Benítez, Santiago Solari, and Julen Lopetegui all failed to thrive. Carlo Ancelotti, a master of calm leadership and first-class management, found success. And while tactical prowess is sometimes questioned, it was Zinedine Zidane, the legendary French midfielder, who achieved the previously impossible as Real’s coach – winning the Champions League three times in a row.
This success was attributed to his strong personality and the authority he held as a Real Madrid and football legend.
It was expected that Xabi Alonso would follow a similar path. However, the reality proved more complex.
Disagreements with Young Players
In October, the coach faced his first El Clásico against Barcelona. Real won, but not without controversy. Leading 2-1, and with Barcelona pressing for an equalizer, Alonso decided to substitute Vinícius Júnior, replacing him with the more defensively responsible Rodrygo.
This sparked an outburst of anger, with Vinícius throwing his arms in the air and storming off the pitch.
The club did not punish the player for his childish behavior, letting the incident pass. Vinícius subsequently issued an apology, which only added to the situation: “I want to apologize to all the fans for my reaction to the substitution. I also want to apologize to my teammates, the club, and the president. Sometimes my passion and desire to win and help the team get the better of me.”
Notably, he failed to mention the coach, whose authority was undermined by the incident. This was a clear sign that Alonso would face challenges in the locker room.
Photo: Profimedia.cz
Connection that didn’t work: coach Xabi Alonso and attacker Vinícius Júnior.
Then came a weaker November, with Real winning only two of six matches. Every setback is scrutinized in the demanding environment of the Spanish giant.
After a home game against Celta Vigo, where the team lost 0-2 following a lackluster performance, questions began to arise about Alonso’s position. Was the team’s performance a reflection of spoiled, lazy stars, or was the coach unable to motivate them?
A run of five consecutive wins followed, but the team lost the Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona on Sunday. Real Madrid struggled in the match, losing 2-3. Twenty-four hours later, Xabi was no longer the coach.
Initial reports indicated that Alonso resigned voluntarily. However, The Athletic and the Totally Football Show podcast later reported that he was fired.
The news was accompanied by a video that became symbolic of the situation. After the loss to Barcelona, the coach asked his team to form a guard of honor for the winners. Kylian Mbappé signaled to his teammates not to participate.
🚨 Xabi Alonso’s authority completely undermined by Kylian Mbappé last night. 👀
He wanted the team to form a guard of honour for Barcelona, Mbappé refused and the players listened to Mbappé. 🤯
He had no choice but to leave after that. 👋 pic.twitter.com/HXdHTLxAN7
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) January 12, 2026
Alonso reportedly told club officials during a final meeting: “You can’t give the players that much power. It’s impossible for a coach to manage the locker room when the club always sides with them.”
Álvaro Arbeloa, Alonso’s former teammate at Real Madrid and Liverpool, has taken over as interim coach. Whether this will be a successful move, or if the club will seek another high-profile manager, remains to be seen.
However, it will be crucial for the next coach to gain the support of the locker room – a challenge that may be even more important at Real Madrid than at any other club in the world.
