Xabi Alonso sacked by Real Madrid hours after Barcelona loss as statement released | Football | Sport
Xabi Alonso‘s managerial reign at Real Madrid has come to an abrupt end less than 24 hours after their Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona. A day after losing 3-2 to their Clasico rivals in Saudi Arabia, Los Blancos say Alonso has left by mutual consent after seven months in charge. Former Real Madrid midfielder Alonso, who played 236 times for the club as a player, was only appointed last June.
The Spaniard oversaw 34 matches as manager, winning 24, drawing four and losing six. He leaves with the club sat second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona. They are also into the last 16 of the Copa del Rey and sit seventh in the Champions League table, in position to qualify automatically for the knockouts and avoid a two-legged playoff tie. Real also reached the Club World Cup semi-finals under Alonso in the summer.
But despite winning five matches in a row before the defeat to Barca as well as 13 of their first 14 matches of the season, Real Madrid have parted ways with Alonso. The ex-Liverpool player will now be heavily linked with a return to Anfield where Arne Slot has endured a difficult second season after leading the Reds to the Premier League title in his maiden campaign.
Despite their struggles, Liverpool still beat Alonso’s Real Madrid team in the Champions League on November 4 at Anfield. The Spanish giants said in a statement on Monday evening: “Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time 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 represented 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 time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”
Before taking charge at the Bernabeu, Alonso enjoyed immense success at Bayer Leverkusen. The 44-year-old led the German club to their first ever Bundesliga title. Die Werkself even went the entire in the 2023-24 season without losing once in 34 games, winning 28 and drawing six en route to lifting the Meisterschale.
In the same campaign, they also won the DFB Pokal for just the second time in the club’s history and finished as runners-up in the Europa League, losing to Atalanta in the final. Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz ended as the Bundesliga Player of the Year and is now at Liverpool, where he is still searching to become as prolific as he was under Alonso.
