Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid by mutual consent just 24 hours after a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup, bringing an abrupt end to the former midfielder’s brief and turbulent spell in charge at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The LaLiga giants confirmed the decision on Monday, paying tribute to Alonso’s legacy at the club while acknowledging the need for change following a disappointing run of results across domestic and European competitions.

“Xabi Alonso will always have the love and admiration of all Real Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has represented the values of our club at all times. Real Madrid will always be his home,” the club said in an official statement.

Real Madrid also announced that former defender and current second-team coach Álvaro Arbeloa will take over first-team duties with immediate effect. Arbeloa is set to make his managerial debut on Wednesday when Los Blancos face second-division side Albacete in the Copa del Rey round of 16.

Alonso was appointed in May on a three-year contract after an extraordinary spell with Bayer Leverkusen, where he guided the German club to a historic unbeaten Bundesliga title during the 2023-24 season. That campaign also included a German Cup victory and a run to the Europa League final, achievements that cemented his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young managers and convinced Real Madrid to bring him back to the club as head coach.

However, Alonso’s return failed to meet the club’s relentless expectations. Despite enjoying a strong start to the season that saw Real Madrid establish a five-point lead at the top of LaLiga, performances soon declined sharply. The team has since fallen to second place in the standings, now four points behind defending champions Barcelona.

Real Madrid’s struggles under Alonso were highlighted by several high-profile defeats, including losses to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup, Atlético Madrid in LaLiga, and Champions League setbacks against Liverpool and Manchester City. Reports from Spanish media also suggested growing internal tension, with alleged disagreements involving senior figures such as co-captain Federico Valverde and winger Vinícius Júnior adding pressure to an already difficult situation.

The 44-year-old’s dismissal underlines Real Madrid’s impatience when standards are not met, despite the appointment initially being viewed as a long-term project. Comparisons were drawn early on with fellow former midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who famously led the club to three consecutive Champions League titles, but similar success proved elusive during Alonso’s short tenure.

As a player, Alonso made 236 appearances for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2014, winning a LaLiga title, two Copa del Rey trophies and playing a key role in securing the club’s historic 10th Champions League crown. His coaching career began at Real Madrid’s academy, where he guided the Under-14 side to league and tournament success in the 2018-19 season before progressing to Real Sociedad’s reserve team and later achieving major success with Bayer Leverkusen.

While his spell as Real Madrid manager ended sooner than expected, Alonso remains highly regarded in European football, and his next move is likely to attract significant attention as clubs continue to monitor one of the game’s most respected emerging coaches.